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DAVIS. 


pearl ulilla 



Ignorance Unveiled 

(Written at the age of IS) 


BY 

PEARL ULILLA DAVIS 

AUTHOK OF 

“THE WHISPERED WORDS'^ 

(Written at the age of 16) 



BROADWAY PUBLISHING COMPANY 


MOxXTREALr— NEW YORK— LONDON 




UIS’Ra-K/ CO'W';a 

"two Rt>cet*ed 

JAN 27 1904 

Copyrignt Entry 

CU^§ ^ XXc. Np, 

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' COPY 8 



> ^ '■ • 


4 


Cipypigh ted 1904 
by 

PEARL ULILLA DAVIS^ 


HOPE. 


God’s hand was guiding mine full well I know. 

His Presence near I felt, beneath the glow 
Of hopeful messages down sent to throw 
A light on ignorant souls so they will Know. 

And all who read, may weak souls find the right 
While looking up to Christ, and see the Light! 

— The Author. 


PREFACE. 


Night after night I have lain awake, battling 
with the restless longing to unburden the expres- 
sions that came to me. Voices seemed to soar aloft, 
urging me on, on, until I found no rest. Mystic 
forces seemed to gather in my mind and to chain 
me to a Purpose, which would not leave me. I 
fought hard to suppress the beckoning, but a 
Mighty Hand seemed to clutch my knowledge fac- 
ulties into utterance ; words and voices thrilled my 
heart and mind until I was powerless to resist: I 
was bound to the Cross, and I had to open my soul. 
And even as I wrote, those mystic voices grew 
louder, and one, clear toned and sweet, whispered 
to me: 

Mighty Hand is guiding thee. Write on, 
thou faithful one, thy works shall live in human 
hearts forever ! Souls shall be lifted to God by thy 
unveiling V* 

THE AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


7 


Chapter I. 

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing 
covered, that shall not he revealed; and hid, that 
shall not he known. 


Chapter II. 

Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the 
gate, and hroad is the way that leadeth to destruc- 
tion, and many there he which go thereat. 


Chapter III. 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and 
loivly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls. 


Chapter lY. 

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, 
believing, ye shall receive. 


Chapter Y. 

For whosoever shall exalt himself, shall he 
abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall he 
exalted. 


8 


CONTENTS {Continued), 


Chapter VI. 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and 
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil 
against you falsely, for my sake! 


Chapter VII. 

The poor and the merciful will he greatest in 
Heaven; and the least in Heaven will he the rich 
and pitiless. 


Chapter VIII. 

Trust God; look upward, and open your soul to 
Him. Seek His aid and all will he well. 


Chapter IX. 

In life, we may learn to forget our badness, hut 
in Death, it rises like a mountain before us, and the 
more we try to get from it, the greater it grows, 
until it covers us! 


Chapter X. 

Except ye he converted, and become as little 
children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven. 


IGNORANCE UNVEILED. 


CHAPTER I. 

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing 
covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that 
shall not be known. 

* ♦ * 

He was the only son of one of the richest mer- 
chants of Hannibal, accustomed to all the luxuries 
and refinements of wealth; while his daily asso- 
ciates were of the leading families of Hannibal, 
St. Louis, and other large cities of Virginia. She 
worked as clerk and bookkeeper in his father^s 
office, thereby maintaining a livelihood for her 
mother, her crippled brother and herself. 

It was nearly seven o^clock, and only a faint 
radiance in the western sky gave proof that the 
sun had disappeared but a short time ago. Nearly 
all the stores were closed, and people were hurrying 
homeward, passing these two as they loitered along 
the street. Eugene Davert had met her at the 
office door, and had not yet left her side. He had 
taken in every detail of her sweet, patient face, 
her shapely form, which the cheapest of dress 
material could never make awkward. Five months 
he had been absent from Hannibal, and yet she 
had given no signs of pleasure at his return. She 
had greeted him with her usual quiet dignity, and 
he felt both vexed and puzzled. In her graceful, 
girlish way, she walked by his side, but scarcely a 
9 


lo Ignorance Unveiled. 

word had she spoken, excepting to give polite 
answers to his many questions. 

“Ah he said, suddenly. “I had not noticed it 
before. Your friend, Ethel Elait, is absent from 
the store. How is that ? Did my father discharge 
her 

He saw a quick emotion pass across her thought- 
ful face. 

“No,^^ answered Lila Landon, as though some- 
thing were choking her, “just after your departure, 
Ethel eloped with Lester Brown !” 

“Lila ! impossible ! Why, Brown is a thorough 
scamp !” 

She raised her deep blue eyes to his face. 

“There are many scoundrels in this world, Mr. 
Davert,” she said, quietly. 

He did not know why, but a strange thrill 
passed over him. 

“What has Ethel’s mother said about it?” he 
asked, his gaze wandering from hers. “Mrs. Tren- 
ton is a proud woman. This elopement surely 
aroused her indignation ?” 

“Which is only natural, Mr. Davert. But she 
was powerless to avert the disaster. So well had 
the elopement been planned, that no one knows of 
their whereabouts.” 

“What in the world prompted Ethel to do such 
a thing ? She always seemed a lady-like girl. But 
she has not been so happy since her mother’s 
divorce, has she?” 

Rising tears glistened in the young girl’s eyes. 

“The divorce was pain enough for Ethel,” she 
replied, “but when her mother married Mr. Tren- 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


II 


ton so soon afterwards, it nearly broke Ethel’s 
heart. ‘If mamma can do such a thing/ she said 
one day to me, ‘nothing is disgraceful. Think of 
my father living and my mother married to another 
man.’ Poor Ethel, poor, dear girl. Her pride 
seemed to vanish after that, and she grew so piti- 
fully reckless, that I cried whenever 1 thought of 
her. She even” — with a faltering voice — “slighted 
me, and when I reproved her, she said that she 
wasn’t a fit companion for me.” 

“But, Lila, did she love this Brown ?” 

“I — I think that she did, — that she does love 
him.” 

Eugene Davert drew a deep breath. 

“Ah, that accounts for it, then. Love! what 
won’t people do for love?” 

They had reached the street corner bordering a 
vacant lot, and no one was near them. There was 
a large locust-tree just at the corner, but they did 
not see the manly form leaning lightly against it. 
He was at the other side of the tree, looking 
dreamily along the street, unconscious of the pedes- 
trians’ approach. 

Eugene stopped and placed his slender, gloved 
hand over her wrist. 

“Lila, if it was love that prompted them to act, 
then all is well. What is honor if there is love? 
What is dishonor if there is devotion?” 

He was gazing into her eyes, and catching a 
glimpse of the passion that lurked in his, she 
shrank perceptibly away. 

“Lila, have you ever loved, — ever thought of 
loving ?” 


12 Ignorance Unveiled. 

He had moved so near that her shoulder brushed 
his arm. A faint flush tinged her rounded cheeks. 
With a nervous hand, she pushed back a stray 
ringlet that had fallen over her brow. 

“Yes, I sometimes think of she answered, 
slowly. 

He glanced cautiously about. There were people 
further down on the opposite walk, but they were 
not approaching. He bent his handsome face to- 
ward her. 

“Lila, you know how wealthy my father is, do 
you not? He would never leave me his worldly 
possessions, were I to marry beneath me. Hut, 
darling, I love you so that it drives me mad to be 
without you. Lila, will you not make me happy, 
even though this obstacle stands in my way? 
Could you not be happy with me? I would give 
you every luxury that wealth can afford, and I 
would treat your mother and your brother as 
though they were my own.^^ 

A startled light of fear crept into her eyes, but, 
as though held by that light touch upon her wrist, 
she stood with quickened breath before him. 

“You mean that 

Her eyes were raised now, and gazing straight 
into his own. 

“Of course I could not marry you, Lila, until I 
was sure of my inheritance ; that would be impos- 
sible. But, darling, I would be a devoted slave to 
you, — ^your husband excepting in name. Dearest, 
why won’t you say yes ? Do you doubt my love ?” 

“Doubt your love ?” As she spoke a faint smile 
parted her lips. “Ho, I wasn’t even thinking of 


Ignorance Unveiled. 13 

that. I was only trying to realize what wealth 
would mean to my toiling, care-worn mother, and 
my crippled brother who pines for luxuries that we 
can never afford.^^ 

A triumphant look crossed his face. 

‘^Your brother likes me, too,^^ he said, gently. 
^^And think of what we could do for him.” 

‘‘But — but are you quite sure, Mr. Davert, that 
it is right for any girl to do what you are asking 
me?” 

“Eight? Why, Lila, what a question!” He 
laughed mirthlessly. “Dozens of girls do it every 
day. It is ” He stopped abruptly, as a sud- 

den fear crept into his heart. What was that 
strange, intense look in her eyes? “You will 
come, Lila?” he pleaded. “You will make me 
happy ?” 

“I must have time to think,” she answered, soft- 
ly. “You will not mind waiting a little while, will 
you ?” 

“Ho, my darling, but do not make it too long. 
Promise that you will answer me to-morrow.” 

“Yes, I will answer you to-morrow.” She drew 
her hand from his clasp and moved away. “And 
now I will bid you good-evening. It is getting 
dark; mamma will be looking for me.” 

With her quiet dignity, she gave him to under- 
stand that the remainder of her homeward route 
would be more desirable without him. He raised 
his hat and bowed with all the grace of a South- 
erner. 

“Kemember!” he murmured, tenderly, “and be 
merciful, Lila!” 


14 Ignorance Unveiled. 

She smiled into his eyes, and then, turning, 
walked away. 

He stood gazing after her, a slight flush on his 
face. 

^^What your thoughts are, Eugene, only God 
knows 

It was a grave, pained voice that uttered these 
words. The man had come from the other side of 
the locust-tree and was now standing before his 
friend. 

Nearly every person in Hannibal knew, or had 
heard of, this man. He was loved and blessed in 
the homes of the poor ; brothers, who had fallen by 
the wayside, owed their converted souls to him. 
He was known as a prophet, a preacher, a man 
whose whole soul was wrapped in the purest faith 
of Christ. He was not what one would call a 
handsome man ; no, but, rather, his face was beau- 
tiful with the knowledge and practice and love of 
Christianity. Hundreds of people spoke of him 
with love and reverence; others doubted his re- 
ligious ardor, and tried, in every way, to arouse 
disbelief in him. But what he was, he was, and no 
living soul could make him otherwise. 

Not receiving a reply to his remark, he placed 
one firm hand on Davert’s shoulder and repeated : 

‘^What your thoughts are, Eugene, only God 
knows V’ 

With a vexed frown, EUgene looked into his 
friend’s eyes. 

“You here?” he asked, angrily. “Where have 
you been hiding all this time?” 

“I was leaning against that tree ; had you given 


Ignorance Unveiled. 15 

but one glance in that direction, you would have 
seen me. My friend, what I have overheard has 
pained me very deeply. Do you realize, I wonder, 
how rapidly your sin is yoking you to dishonor 

‘^What do you mean?^^ Davert spoke fiercely, 
his lips compressing as he looked into the face of 
Lauren Void, where pity, love and anxiety were all 
so plainly revealed. 

‘‘Eugene, you are breaking one of God^s holy 
commandments.’^ 

“Which one?” 

“The seventh.” 

A suppressed oath faltered on Davert’s lips. 

“You lie, sir. I have not ruined the girl.” 

“I know that.” His voice was full of pain. 
“But, nevertheless, you are sinning!” 

“I tell you” — angrily — “I have not touched the 
girl 1” 

“I believe you; but you have read the Bible, 
haven’t you?” 

“Of course. I used to think quite seriously of 
it.” 

“So you are like the seed among the thorns, 
Eugene ; you tried to live in the belief of GTod, but 
the deceitfulness of riches choked your belief and 
you have become unfruitful.” 

“Never mind what I have become. What has 
that to do with my breaking a commandment ?” 

Lauren’s voice was very low and serious, as he 
spoke. 

“Well, my friend, you know Jesus said this: 
‘But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a 


1 6 Ignorance Unveiled. 

woman to lust after her hath committed adultery 
with her already in his heart/ 

The young man^s face flushed with angry pride. 
He had half turned away, but now he clenched his 
hands and wheeled about, facing his interpreter. 

^^You ought to be ashamed to speak such words 1 
It is a pretty plain truth to utter on the street.^^ 

^^Then you admit it to be the truth 

^^Your shameless impudence compels me to do 
soP 

^^And your words, my falling friend, compel me 
to say that I am not ashamed to utter words that 
Jesus Christ preached to multitudes!” Then, 
softly, lingeringly, he raised the young man’s 
hands in both his own. 

^^My brother, is there not more shame in being 
guilty of the crime than in speaking it to save 
another ?” 

Eugene snatched his white, jeweled hands away. 

^Tshaw! don’t try your silk voice around me. 
I’m not the weak kind, to believe everything you 
say. If you want the girl for yourself, say so; 
don’t beat about the bush like a coward!” 

There was a moment’s hush. Davert moved 
uneasily. 

A smile of patient endurance crossed Lauren 
Void’s lips. 

^‘Your words are quite meaningless, Eugene, 
when I have met Miss Landon but twice in my 
life, — and then only recently, for I became ac- 
quainted with her just one week ago.” 

‘^ell, love can grow in a week!” — sneeringly. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 17 

^^And passion even sooner — I know that, 
Eugene.^^ 

“See here, Lauren, you are insulting me.” 

“No, my friend, believe me, I am not. I am 
pleading with you for the honor of an innocent 
girl. Why didn^t you answer her as a true man 
should, when she asked you if it was right of her 
to do what you were asking? It may be nothing 
to you on earth in wrecking a girl’s soul, but it 
will mean vengeance on you in heaven ! Revel in 
bliss while you may, but there is a judgment ever 
before you. No matter where stray the Shepherd’s 
sheep. He knows where to seek them. No matter 
how small your sins. He knows them!” 

“But if we are expected to be good, why is there 
a devil to tempt us ?” 

“The devil never tempts us, my friend.” 

‘WT'hat! You deny it?” 

“Ah, yes, yes! Were we never to tempt the 
devil, he would forsake us! Hell is not created 
for us ; we create hell !” 

“Good heavens ! I do not understand you !” 

“It is very simple. For instance, notice the 
cafe across the street from us. Perhaps you have 
an inclination to go there to drink?” 

“I have, I admit.” 

“Yes, but only a mild inclination. But suppos- 
ing I turn to you like this.” He takes his hand, 
his eyes eager, a gentle drawing forward of his 
clasp. “ ^Come, come to the cafe with me. There 
is wine, cool, rich, delicious — come, come!’ You 
would feel more eager, wouldn’t you?” 

^^Ah, yes, indeed, I would go at once.” 


i8 Ignorance Unveiled. 

^^Just so. That would be an undeniable inclina- 
tion of tempting.^^ 

see; but who would be to blame, you or I?” 

^^You, of course. I would only be tempting. 
You would be my ruin, for you would encourage 
me to tempt others. Your downfall would be 
yourself — one; but my downfall would be the 
downfall of thousands!” 

^^And you would not be to blame at all?” 

‘^Yes, it would be wrong in me to encourage 
you ; but you would be the tempter.” 

‘^By this, you mean ” 

‘^That, according to what I have said, I would 
stand in the place of the devil ; but you would be 
tempting me to tempt.” 

‘^Then do you think a saloon-keeper is sinning to 
sell liquors?” 

‘‘Yes, it is wrong of him to encourage, and yet if 
he does not tempt in words or acts, he is not a 
tempter. If a person looks at the place and longs 
for a drink, but passes on, no harm is done. If he 
does pass in and drink, he is the tempter, for he 
will be tempted to do so again. That is tempting 
the devil.” 

“But do you think it wrong to drink?” 

“In a moderate and sensible way, no; for, ac- 
cording to the Bible, Jesus distributed wine to His 
guests. Only when a man drinks to excess is he a 
tempter. He is a glutton, then, and as such is a 
tempter of his own ruin.” 

“And the saloon-keeper would not be to blame ?” 

“Only for placing the drinks before the eye. 


19 


Ignorance Unveiled. 

Unless he should tempt by words or acts, as I have 
said ; then he would also be a tempter, and share 
the downfall.^^ 

‘‘But which would get the greatest blame 

“The glutton, of course, for he would have the 
will-power to resist, and in his downfall he tempts 
his own will-power. Therefore, he is first and 
greatest in his ruin.’’ 

With wondering eyes, Davert gazed into the 
speaker’s face. 

“Lauren, how do you know this ?” 

“By experience, Eugene, for men, whom I have 
saved from drunkards’ graves, have told me that it 
was pure weakness that was wrecking them, body 
and soul.” 

“Well, if that is the truth, then, what did you do 
to save them?” 

“I taught them to place their weaknesses in the 
hands of Christ, and He is leading them to 
righteousness.” 

“Lauren, why do you believe in God?” 

“Because I am here.” 

“But supposing there had never been a God; 
where would you be?” 

“Nowhere, for there would be no world; 1 
should never have been created.” 

“Your belief is extraordinary. But don’t you 
really think that the rich have more pleasure on 
this earth than the poor ?” 

“No, indeed, for there are poor persons, who, in 
an hour, can succeed in enjoying what will take 
rich persons years to find.” 

“Why do you think so ?” 


20 Ignorance Unveiled. 

^'Becan'se a poor man^s pleasure is pleasure, but 
a rich man’s pleasure is merely a pastime — a false 
glitter.” 

“By Jove, you are right there, Lauren! I’ve 
envied many a poor fellow’s pleasure at something 
that ennuied me! Then you do not admire this 
society of rich people who live solely for their own 
vanity and pleasures ?” 

“No; and no true Christian can admire it, my 
friend.” 

“But what do you think of it, Lauren?” 

“This: Society is a whirlpool of fate, with 
one whirl toward heaven and ninety-nine whirls 
toward destruction !” 

“Then you think, do you not, that a wealthy 
man’s existence is not a happy one?” 

“Yes, for there is not a rich man in this world 
whose restless longings do not tell him that some- 
thing is lacking in his daily life. It remains with 
him to heed this voice of Christ, or to push it from 
him; but kill it he never shall, for it will plead 
with him unto death!” 

Eugene Davert moved uneasily. 

“By Jove, you seem to be reading my soul !” 

“Then, Eugene, I wish that I could save it. I 
beg of you to spare this innocent girl. Oh, my 
friend, think what Jesus said: ‘For what is a 
man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and 
lose his own soul. For the Son of man shall 
come in the glory of His Father with the angels; 
and then He shall reward every man according to 
his works.’ Eugene, while there is yet time, com- 
mence in making your works admirable ones !” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 21 

There was a short silence. 

love her, I must have her I’’ muttered Davert, 
savagely. 

Lauren Void heard the mumbled words. His 
beautiful face paled. 

‘^Beware, my friend,’^ he said, sternly. ^Tf you 
let hate or passion rule you, your soul will be lost.^^ 

Then, with bowed head, he turned and strode 
away. 

Eugene turned his back upon his departing 
friend, and gazed over into the vacant lot. A pile 
of debris, which had been dumped there, met his 
look. 

^^Good heavens !” he shuddered, ^That is like the 
pile of debris which God will not want. Why in 
the world have I listened to Lauren’s fool-headed 
chatter? Misery! how his words haunt me! 
What a face, — what a voice he has ! To the devil 
with him, I say!” 

And with a bitter oath, Davert hailed a passing 
cab; but the vacant lot with that pile of sin, 
haunted his memory unto his dying day ! 


22 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


CHAPTER II. 

Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is 
the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to de- 
struction, and many there be which go thereat. 

* * * 

Lila Landon continued her way homeward, a 
strange feeling of dissatisfied restlessness creeping 
into her throbbing heart, Why had he said those 
words to her: “Think what we could do for your 
brother !” Poor, sweet-tempered, and patient little 
Laury. How he always overlooked his own pains 
and misery, to console his mother or her, with 
cheery words and little acts of kindness. Poor 
child ! Since his birth, one leg had been shriveled 
and useless, and his back was always so weak that 
he could stand only so many minutes at a time. 
If she was rich, what luxuries she could give him ! 

In her unselfish thoughts of him, she had not 
yet clearly realized that the money would be stained 
in dishonor. Sometimes she was rather slow to 
think of more than one important event, but when 
the underknowledges did awaken her to their 
meanings, she was never slow in making her de- 
cision. Had her mother and brother been quer- 
ulous, discontented persons, she would not have 
been so sensitive to their comforts ; but when they 
met all troubles with brave, patient faces, and 
cheered her, even in their trials, her soul quivered 
with longing to draw them above toil. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 23 

As she neared her home, which was a tiny cot- 
tage on the southern outskirts of Hannibal, her 
eyes grew dim with tears. This home was the 
only possession that her dead father had left 
them, and she often wondered what they could do 
without it. 

^^Even in our troubles we have lots to be thank- 
ful for,’^ she murmured. 

Then her tears dried away, and, looking up, she 
saw Laury leaning on his well-worn crutches. He 
was standing by the gate, and evidently awaiting 
her. With a gay smile and wave of her hand she 
hurried forward, and he raised his cap as he 
assisted her to open the gate. 

‘^Lila, I have been waiting for you, dearest,” he 
murmured, as their lips met, lovingly. ^^Ho, no, 
I can shut the gate. Something has happened to 
make me very happy and I want to share it with 
you. Come in where mother is and I will tell 
you.” 

With loving tenderness, she looked into his boy- 
ish face as they went along the walk. It was a 
very short path to the little, front porch, and an 
old chestnut-tree, waving its leafy branches above 
the roof, was the only tree in the yard. However, 
there were many flowers thriving and blooming 
near the porch, and several potted carnations were 
nodding their scented heads in the sitting-room 
window. As Lila and Laury entered the room, a 
gust of wind stirred the lovely flowers, and one 
sent a shower of petals to the floor. 

Strangely nervous, Lila saw this and winced, 
wonder what that predicts for me,” she said, 


24 Ignorance Unveiled. 

uneasily. ^^Is my life to be a waste like that pretty 
flower 

^^Why, darling/^ exclaimed her mother, coming 
toward her, ^^growing fanciful at this late hour? 
You are looking through the wrong eye, darling. 
The flower is showing you that you have learnt to 
discard sin, and that your soul will ever be fruitful. 
See, the center of the flower is left; that is the 
soul.^^ 

‘^Why, mother, youYe right, after all — with a 
kiss. ^^How one can nag at trouble, canT one? 
Well, well, how nice and cosey it is in here. Is 
supper almost ready, mother, dear?” 

“Yes, darling, all ready, so come right along. 
You are a little late, arenT you, Lila ?” — with an 
anxious look. 

Lila met that motherly glance, and her girlish 
heart leaped uneasily. How well her mother read 
her varying moods. 

“Yes, mother, a little late,” she murmured, 
softly. Then she assisted Laury to his chair before 
the kitchen-table. 

There were but two bedrooms besides the sit- 
ting-room, so they always ate their meals in the 
cosey little kitchen. “And even if we do have to 
eat in here,” Laury had often said, “1^11 bet we 
enjoy it as much as a king does in his dining- 
hall.” 

Mrs. Landon was about forty years of age, but 
her dark tresses contained scarcely a gray hair, 
and even though her face was wrinkled, it was 
still attractive, for the marks of time were from 
toil, and not from mere sourness of disposition. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 25 

She always sat by Laury at the table, and, as they 
took their places, she turned to him. 

“You look a little weary, darling, so don^t walk 
any more to-night. Now, while you eat, tell Lila 
about your good fortune, and then you must go 
to bed. You didn^t sleep well last night, and I 
want you to do better this time.^’ 

As she spoke, she helped him to a piece of steak. 

“Oh, miother,^^ he laughed, “Bob Dayton says 
that ^Steak for supper-fare is sure to bring the 
night-mare!^ So what am I to do? I confess 
that I have a very keen appetite for this particular 
steak.” 

“Then eat it, darling, and tell me about youi 
happiness. I^m awfully anxious to hear it.” 

Lila met his gaze and gave him an encouraging 
nod. 

“Well,” said he, eagerly cutting a piece of the 
meat, “you have heard of Maud Lake, havenT 
you ?” 

Lila opened her eyes very wide. 

“Miss Lake, the heiress? — ^yes, indeed! But 
what has she got to do with your good fortune?” 

“Everything, Lila. She stopped here to-day, 
in her carriage, and asked me to make her four 
dozen of my reed-baskets. She wants them for a 
candy social, and I am to be paid five cents apiece 
for them.” 

Lila looked in astonishment at her mother’s 
smiling face. 

“Why, mother! why, Laury!” she exclaimed. 
“Why, how did she know that you make baskets ?” 

“Mr. Void told her about it^ Lila, and I’m 


26 Ignorance Unveiled. 

almost sure he got her to buy them of me. She 
said that he wants all the others that I can make, 
for the hospital children in St. Louis.^^ 

There were grateful tears in Mrs. Landon^s eyes 
as she watched her son^s bright face, and Lila, 
with a little cry of delight, arose, and going around 
the table, gave her brother a vigorous hug. 

^^Oh, my pet, what luck for you ! Five cents for 
every one you make, dear? Why, Mr. Void is a 
jewel, isnT he? But, darling, you mustn’t make 
more than ten a day; that will be quite enough 
work for one day, won’t it, mother ?” 

^^Yes, Laury, you must not overdo your strength, 
dear.” 

“Well, that will be fifty cents a day, anyhow,’' 
said Laury, triumphantly. 

Lila rubbed her soft cheek against his, and then 
returned to her chair. 

“And you shall have some new picture-books, 
and everything nice !” she cried. “Oh, how often 
I have longed to get you a little present ! Laury, 
you know I have, don’t you, darling?” Her lips 
quivered as she looked at him. How contentedly 
and brightly he was devouring that tough piece of 
steak. She had scarcely touched her own. 

“Know it !” exclaimed Laury, with fiushed face. 
“Of course I do, and that is Just the reason I’m 
going to buy something nice for you and mother 
as soon as I can save up enough.” 

“Oh, Laury, you mustn’t say that!” interposed 
Lila, while Mrs. Landon cried: 

“Ko, no, Laury, your earnings must be for your 
own little pleasures,” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 27 

^^Well, if that’s the case, my little pleasures are 
in doing something for you two,” he said, with a 
gay little laugh. Then, suddenly, his thin face 
paled, he quietly laid aside his fork and leaned 
back in his cushioned chair. In an instant his 
mother was standing by his side. 

^^Darling, what is it ?” she pleaded, with wistful 
eyes. 

He tried to smile, but the effort was a dismal 
failure. 

‘‘ 1 — I am a bit tired,” he faltered, lowering his 
eyes so that she could not see the pain in them. 

think I shall go to bed, please, mother !” 

Lila, with a pale, anxious face, helped her 
mother roll his chair across the sitting-room and 
into the neat little bedroom. It was not often 
that he was attacked with those spasm-like pains, 
and they always frightened her. 

“Darling, I will put him to bed,” said her 
mother, “and you may go and clear away the 
dishes. I will call you when he is ready to bid 
you good-night.” 

Lila knew that her mother always read the Bible 
and talked of Jesus to Laury when he was suffer- 
ing thus, and it seemed to bring wonderful en- 
durance to the patient child. So she softly closed 
the door and returned to the kitchen. With as 
little noise as possible, she went about her house- 
hold task, her mind fearfully uneasy about Laury. 

“Oh, if he should die, it would seem as though 
our little flock were wrecked forever. If I were 
only able, I would have every great doctor in the 
world come here to see him. And yet’^ — with ^ 


28 Ignorance Unveiled. 

deep, tearful sigh — doubt if they could help 
him. The doctors at the hospital could do nothing 
for him. They say that it is a deformity impos- 
sible to remedy.^^ 

A tear rolled down her cheek, but she wiped it 
hurriedly away. 

‘‘He endures it more bravely than 1,^ she sobbed. 
“I envy him his implicit faith in God. How grand 
it must be to feel as he and mother do ! Why is 
it that I am different, I wonder T'* 

She finished drying the plates and placed them 
beside the cups and saucers in the closet. Then 
she pushed the table against the wall and emptied 
her dish-pan. 

“There, to-day’s work is done,” she murmured, 
as she glanced at the small clock. “Only nine 
o’clock. Well, I am glad it is getting dark, because 
Laury will be more apt to fall asleep. Poor, dear 
brother, poor boy!” 

She hung her apron behind the door and then 
entered the sitting-room, carrying the lamp in her 
hand. This she placed upon a small table, and 
then she sank upon the sofa near the window. A 
few moments passed in silence, while she listened 
to the murmur of her mother’s voice in the next 
room. Then the voice ceased, soft footsteps 
traversed the room, the door was opened and 
closed, and her mother came toward her. 

“Is he asleep, mother?” she asked, anxiously. 

“Yes, dear, he fell asleep while I was reading 
to him about the Crucifixion. ‘Mother,’ he said, 
‘Jesus withstood many temptations and suffered a 
great deal, didn’t He ?’ ‘Yes, Laury,’ I answered. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 29 

^Well, mother, He knew that heaven was worth it,’ 
he murmured; and then he went to sleep. He 
seemed much better, too.” 

‘^Oh, mother, I am so glad ! I am sure he suffers 
dreadfully, but he will never tell us. Was there 
ever a boy like our darling?” 

‘^No, dear, only those who live with Christ in 
their heart is like our Laury.” 

A faint thrill passed over Lila. She took her 
mother’s hand and drew the elder woman by her 
side upon the sofa. 

‘^Mother, I have something to confess to you. 
Please do not attribute my hesitation as an in- 
clination to accept the offer. You know I always 
need time to think over anything, and this was a 
great temptation to me while I thought of Laury’s 
comforts.” 

‘‘Yes, dear.” 

“Mother, Eugene Davert returned to Hannibal 
to-day. He arrived this morning on the Minne- 
sota/' 

“Yes, darling.” 

“He hovered about the office all day, and accom- 
panied me part of the way home this evening.” 

“His presence accounts for you being late, Lila ?” 

“Yes, mother.” Lila’s golden-crested head low- 
ered to her mother’s shoulder. “Mother,” she 
whispered, suddenly becoming agitated, as the full 
import of her words dawned upon her, “Mr. Davert 
honored me with the offer to dishonor me! He 
told me that he loves me, hut cannot marry me; 
that if I will be his wife in all but name, he will 


30 Ignorance Unveiled. 

give you and Laury all the luxuries in life that 
wealth can afford.” 

^^Yes, dear.” 

The answer came very quietly, and Lila looked 
amazed. 

‘‘Why, mother, you do not seem at all sur- 
prised !” 

“Lila, I am not. I have been expecting this. 
I am more experienced in this world^s ways than 
you are, darling. I have realized that Eugene 
Davert’s devotion to a poor girl like you is never 
a true devotion. It is a passing fancy, — a passion 
that is given birth only to die ! A black ruin that 
is added to the pile of sin! And your answer, 
darling, what did you tell him?” 

A hot, burning blush dyed the young girl’s 
cheeks. 

“Mother, forgive me, I thought of only one 
thing then — ^the money that he offered. I told him 
that, to-morrow, I would give him his answer.” 

“And now, Lila, do you realize that, were you 
to accept his offer, your own act would bar you 
from the kingdom of Heaven?” 

“I do, I do, mother !” 

Her mother caught her hands. 

“Lila, Jesus said: ‘Enter ye in at the straight 
gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, 
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be 
which go thereat. Because straight is the gate, 
and narrow is the way, which leadeth into life, and 
few there be that find it.’ My daughter, in this 
world, there are twenty to lead you to destruction ; 


Ignorance Unveiled. 3i 

while there is one to lead yon to righteousness. 
Take my hand, child, and let me lead you. I am 
an only one, but with God^s will, I am as strong 
as those sinful twenty, and I can and will lead you, 
as it is the duty of a mother to lead her child V’ 

The elder woman’s voice faltered with emotion, 
her weary head was bowed as though in prayer. 
With one wild sob, Lila fell upon her knees before 
her mother, and buried her awed young face in 
the soft, white apron. 

^‘Lead! oh, mother, that I should compel you 
to use the word. Please, please forgive me! No, 
no, you need not lead me; I will gladly walk by 
your side. Oh, mother, do not cry. Your tears 
are piercing my heart so that I cannot breathe. I 
did not realize the awful sin, mother. My only 
thought was to help you — ^you and brother!” 

“1 understand, darling,” was the low reply, as 
Mrs. Landon wiped away her tears. ^^But always 
remember, Lila, and fear not them which kill the 
body but are not able to kill the soul ; but rather 
fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and 
body in hell.” 

^‘Then, mother, I should never enter heaven 
were I to accept Mr. Davert’s offer?” 

^‘No, darling, and the gate would also be barred 
to Mr. Ha vert. You would both be breaking the 
seventh commandment. Such a life, without mar- 
riage, is the opening of hell.” 

Lila buried her face in her mother’s lap and 
sobbed aloud. 

^^Oh, mother, if I were an ignorant girl, if you 
had never taught me this, how easily I should have 


32 Ignorance Unveiled. 

fallen into the fearful pit. And then, — oh, my 
God! — I should never have hopes of entering 
heaven ! Mother, mother, you have saved me 
from this awful darkness. I thank you, I thank 
you 1^^ 

Mrs. Landon gently raised the weeping girl. 

^^You are tired and nervous, darling. Come, 
kiss me, dear, and then go to bed. It is only a 
duty that a mother owes to God, to save her 
daughter from ruin. Now that you are saved, 
unburden your heart to God and rejoice 

With a quivering breath, Lila kissed her mother 
and then went into her bedroom. 

Mrs. Landon bowed her weary head upon her 
hands, her heart throbbing with gratitude and 
peace. She had saved her child 1 

“Oh, to think that mothers keep silent and let 
their daughters and sons sink into ruin. Are 
they more ashamed to explain the simple com- 
mandment, ^THOU SHALTH NOT COMMIT 
ADULTERY,^ than they are to see their children 
hreaJc the commandment? I wonder if parents 
realize the gulf of darkness that surrounds their 
children when they do not lift the veil of ignorance 
from their childish eyes? The hand of Satan is 
on them who hesitate. They need beware !” 

She stirred uneasily, and raised her head. 

“Would I hesitate to keep Lila from shame? — 
never, never! Not if I had to toil like a slave by 
day and by night. Not if I had to go through fire 
to do so! ISl^t if I had to die in the attempt. 
Gladly would I give my old life to save her from 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


33 


dishonor, and to know that it was I, her mother, 
who had lifted her from the gulf of sin^s great 
darkness. For who else should save her, if not 
her mother or her father — the creators of her 
being ? It is a duty the parents owe to God ; and 
if they omit this duty, their children’s downfall 
will be their downfall, and their children’s pun- 
ishment their punishment !” 

With a slow, reverent gesture, Mrs. Landon 
raised the worn Bible from its stand and pressed 
it to her lips. 

^^Sacred be this volume,” she murmured, ‘^for, 
through it, we reach God !” 

For several moments she sat silent, her head 
bowed in thought. Then she arose and stole softly 
into the next room and stood beside Lila’s bed. 

The young girl’s long-lashed eyelids were 
closed, and her golden hair lay tossed over her 
pillow, and though she looked lovely and peaceful, 
there was a weary look on her face. 

^^Only eighteen,” murmured the anxious mother. 
‘Toor darling, she is too young to work so hard. 
But what can I do to help her? Gladly would I 
do her share of the work if I could. How I wish 
her father had lived. He, at least, could have 
made her burdens lighter!” 

The sleeping girl stirred softly, then her eyes 
opened and she looked dreamily into her mother’s 
face. The next instant she started up on one 
elbow. 

'^What is it, mother ? Is Laury worse ? Do you 
want me ?” she asked, her face paling. 


34 Ignorance Unveiled. 

A reassuring hand was placed gently on her 
shoulder. 

dear, there is nothing the matter. I only 
came to see if you were asleep. I did not mean to 
awaken you. Darling, I fear you have to work too 
hardr 

‘^Now, mother, dear, if you keep on worrying 
about me like that, I shall stay at home and take 
in washing by the day. The idea ! Do you want 
me to lie around at home like an overfed aristo- 
crat? Not much!^^ And Lila smiled mischiev- 
ously. 

^^And you are quite contented, darling 

‘^Contented as an angel with you and Laury, 
mother. That is why I love to work, when I know 
it is for you and Laury. I would find no enjoy- 
ment in it, were it for myself alone.^’ 

“Your words relieve me, Lila. And, darling, 
if you do not feel too tired to-morrow when you 
come home, will you mind taking Laury^s baskets 
around to Miss Lakeys? He has some already 
made and she is anxious to get them.^^ 

“Why, yes, mother, I shall enjoy the walk. And 
that reminds me of Mr. Void, mother. He is a 
very good man, is he not?’’ 

“Yes, darling, for he is a servant of Christ.” 

“And, mother, he — ^he is very much nobler than 
Eugene Davert, isn’t he?” 

“Dearest, they are not to be compared with the 
same breath. One is the humble servant of God; 
the other is a bigoted slave of sin and riches. 
Did you meet Mr. Void to-day, Lila?” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


35 


mother, I have not seen him since last 
Tuesday. He does not seem to take an interest in 
me, if I am one of HannibaFs poor.^^ 

‘^But he has thought of Laury, dear.^^ 

^^ThaFs so, and he often stops to talk to Laury 
when he sees him in the yard, doesn’t he ?” 

^^Yes, dear.” Mrs. Landon moved nervously. 
^Hf you do meet him, Lila, invite him to call on 
us.” 

^^All right, mother, and I should have done so 
before, but I have met him onlv twice, and then 
had time to speak but a few words to him.” 

Lila yawned sleepily, and Mrs. Landon turned 
away. 

‘‘^Your father liked Mr. Void very well,” she 
said, simply. ‘^And now, good-night, darling.” 

A few moments later Lila was asleep, not 
dreaming of a light that would yet shed its bright 
rays over her shadowed soul. 


36 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


CHAPTER III. 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and 
lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your 
souls. 

* * * 

A bright, happy light was shining in Lila’s 
eyes as, on the following morning, she entered the 
large department store of the firm of Davert & 
Son. The sun seemed brighter, her work was a 
pleasure to her. In a strange, secret way, she felt 
as though she had been saved from some terrible 
darkness, and was lifted once more to a pedestal 
where she yet had the chance to strive for heaven. 
Laury had come to the breakfast table in his usual 
cheerful spirits, and she felt as though she could 
bear any toil to keep him always without pain. 
Her heart was filled with gratitude, and her soul 
was flooded with a peaceful calm. 

On this particular morning she was robed in a 
light summer dress, with a pink ribbon at her 
throat and one about her waist. She wore a wide^ 
brimmed, pink-wreathed hat, and a sweeter picture 
than she made would have been hard to find. As 
she entered the store and turned to speak a cheer- 
ful good-morning to the clerk at the silk-counter, 
she saw that Mable Marks was not there. She 


Ignorance Unveiled. 37 

glanced hurriedly along the aisle, and noticed in 
surprise that all the clerks were gathered in a dis- 
mayed group near the office. They were talking 
and gesticulating excitedly, and some of them were 
pale and frightened. 

Lila, with a dim foreboding at her heart, 
hastened toward them. 

^^What is it, girls?’’ she asked, breathlessly. 
^^What has happened?” 

^^Oh, Lila, you here !” cried Mable Marks. “Oh, 
it is terrible! I can scarcely realize it. Jack 
Biron, one of the clerks in the men’s department, 
committed suicide last night. He shot himself in 
the head, and was found dead in his bed this 
morning. Oh, it is terrible, terrible!” 

“Jack Biron committed suicide!” exclaimed 
Lila, her face like death. “Oh, girls ! Why, what 
possessed him to do so? He seemed very happy 
and contented yesterday when he came to speak 
with me in the office.” 

“They say it was debts — gambling, you know,” 
answered a little cash girl, who dearly loved to 
gossip. “J ack was good on the outside. Miss Lan- 
don, but he wasn’t so nice inside.” 

The childish words, though unpolished, were 
very near the truth, and Lila shuddered as she 
heard them. 

“Well, abuse will do him no good now, dear,” 
she said, gently laying her hand on the little, 
tumbled head. “Speak kindly of the dead.” 

“Death is terrible enough when it comes nat- 
urally, but to murder one’s self — oh, it makes me 
feel as though the devil were in our midst !” And 


38 Ignorance Unveiled. 

wiping the tears from her eyes, Mable Marks 
walked away behind her counter. 

Customers were beginning to arrive, and the 
manager made his appearance. 

‘^Here, ladies,^’ he said, courteously, ^^to your 
places, please. Don^t think too much of the occur- 
rence. You will not remember it at all at the end 
of a week.^^ 

He saw that they went to their appointed 
counters, then he followed Lila as she proceeded 
to the office. This office was at the back of the 
store, having a glass front that faced the entrance. 
Lila’s hand was on the knob of the door when she 
became aware of his presence. She turned to him. 

“You wish to speak to me, Mr. Dorn ?*’ 

“Yes. If you can. Miss Landon, please keep 
the girls from talking of this — er — suicide. You 
see it may damage the trade, and that is not to be 
thought of. For you know if old Mr. Davert, 
senior, should hear of it, he would come here and 
rise Cain. I think we are better situated with the 
elder employer in St. Louis, don’t you ?” 

“Indeed I do,” replied Lila, with genuine feel- 
ing; for she had a keen recollection of how 
Eugene’s father stamped around in the store when- 
ever he came there, which was seldom, being, at the 
greatest, once or twice every six months. So, as 
Mr. Dorn walked away, Lila went to the nearest 
counter and kindly told the clerk to check any 
further talk of Jack Biron. 

This clerk was a young and frivolous girl, who 
disliked Lila very^much, and in a cold tone she 
said : 


Ignorance Unveiled. 39 

will do what I can, of course, but girls will 

talk.^^ 

And then, as soon as Lila had turned her back. 
Miss Raynor continued to herself: ^‘Let them 
talk, what harm can come of it.? Just because our 
employer’s son pays a few trifling attentions to 
Lila, even the manager seems to think that she is 
of more importance than the rest of us. How I 
hate here cool, slow way ! Hasn’t she any passion 
in her, I wonder ? I know that I couldn’t live long 
without losing my temper, but I’ve never seen her 
angry yet. Well, I suppose she doesn’t show her 
real nature till she gets home.” 

After which, this young lady gossiped about the 
suicide with every person that came into the store, 
and before noon the aisles were crowded with 
customers who were curious to know all about the 
affair. So, in her little piece of malice, the envious 
clerk had doubled the trade of her employer. 

Entirely ignorant of this bit of by-play, Lila 
returned to the office and sat down before her 
desk. Drawing the books from a shelf near by, 
she commenced her work, but a certain uneasiness 
stirred in her heart, and every now and then she 
gazed about her, as though she expected to see 
Jack Biron’s spirit watching her. She found it 
only imagination, but the shock had startled her 
nerves, and she found it a difficult task to settle 
to her work. As the clock struck the hour of ten, 
she heard a slight murmur echo through the store, 
and, glanciner up. she saw Eugene Davert coming 
down the aisle. He bowed to the left and right of 
him in his careless, condescending way, stopped to 


40 Ignorance Unveiled. 

speak a few words to the manager, said something 
laughingly to the envious Miss Eaynor, and then 
came toward the office. 

As Lila heard his hand on the door-knob she 
pushed aside her book and leaned back in her 
chair. Any other girl would have been writing, as 
though unaware of his approach, but Lilacs nature 
was above these little deceptions. 

‘^Good-morning, Mr. Davert ; you are quite early 
this morning,^^ she said, smilingly. “You remind 
me of a well-known nursery rhyme, which com- 
mences like this : ‘A dillar, a dollar, a ten o’clock 
scholar. What makes you come so soon ?’ ” 

He came forward and perched on one corner of 
her desk, thus getting a good view of her face, 
while his back hid her from the watching clerks. 

“You seem to be in very pleasant spirits,” he 
answered with a heavy sigh, his eyes restlessly 
traveling over her sweet face. Then he bent above 
her, compressed eagerness in his voice. “Lila, I 
can wait no longer. What is my answer? Have 
you forgotten, dear, that you promised to answer 
me to-day?” 

With her pen-holder she slowly traced a carving 
on her desk. 

“Ho, I have not, Mr. Davert, and my answer is 
a decided noT She spoke so coldly that a pained 
look crept into his eyes, his lips whitened. “I have 
been told how base were your intentions. Through 
my ignorance, you sought to ruin me. ^ly mother, 
Mr. Davert, has taught me better than to accept 
your offer.” 

“Your mother, Lila !” His handsome face 


41 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


flushed. wished this to he a secret between us. 
I did not intend that you should share it with 
others.^^ 

^^But it is best to tell it too soon, than to tell it 
too late, Mr. Bavert. Don’t you agree with me ?” 
She raised her searching eyes to his face. “To 
whom should I tell my secrets, if not to my 
mother? Is it better to sin in ignorance than to 
be saved by unveiling ? I think not !” 

His hands were clenched for one moment. By 
no other sign did he reveal that the disappoint- 
ment was a keen one. Perhaps he was thinking of 
that vacant lot, spotted with that pile of debris. 

“It is strange,” he said, as though with an 
effort, “that your mother does not send someone 
around here to horsewhip me. Did you tell her 
the name of your tempter? You see I am not 
sparing myself.” 

“Ho; and why should you spare yourself? It 
is Christ’s forgiveness that you should seek, Mr. 
Davert. Mother has no wish to punish you. She 
is not angry with you ; she only pities you !” 

He turned his flushed face to hers. 

“Pities me ?” he exclaimed, dryly. “How 
kind !” 

Lila regarded hiih with cold politeness. 

^^Yes, mother pities you, when she knows that 
you go to church, read the Bible, and yet are so 
deeply sinful that you dare to break God’s holy 
commandments !” 

“Enough, please!” 

He arose and moved to the back of her chair. 


42 Ignorance Unveiled. 

One trembling hand was placed reverently upon 
her golden hair. 

“Lila, as God knows, I love you. Gome what 
will, I ask you to marry me.^^ 

Miss Eaynor had said that she wondered if Lila 
possessed any passion. Had she been looking at 
that moment, her doubts would have been dis- 
pelled. With eyes flashing with scorn, Lila slowly 
arose and faced him, her lips quivering with con- 
quering indignation. 

“May God forgive such a love as yours, Eugene 
Davert!” she said, sternly. “Now that you have 
been balked in your effort to blacken my soul, you 
have learnt to respect me. Marry you I could 
not, after knowing what a heart of treachery and 
selfishness you possess. But” — ^her voice soften- 
ing — “if you remain my friend, I only hope that 
you will learn to respect the words of the holy 
Bible. For if you do not respect yourself, no true 
person will respect you !” 

“Thank you!” Now she could see how her 
answer was torturing him. His face had grown 
so pale that she felt frightened as she saw it. 

She placed one trembling hand on his. 

“I am sorry, Mr. Davert, but you realize, do you 
not, that yours is a just punishment, since you 
have brought it upon yourself?” 

And as he listened to her he thought of Lauren 
Void’s words: “The devil does not tempt us; we 
tempt the devil.” How well he realized that fact, 
now that it was forced upon him. 

He raised Lila’s small hand and pressed it to 


Ignorance Unveiled. 43 

his bloodless lips ; then, with a bow, he turned and 
strode from the office. 

A deep sigh of pity and relief escaped her, as 
the door closed behind him. In her heart, she was 
sorry for him; but in her soul, she rejoiced that 
she had been saved from everlasting darkness. Sho 
watched him until he had disappeared in the next 
department; then she bent over the books upon 
her desk. The clerks were casting curious glances 
toward her, but she worked on, only conscious of a 
mingled pain and pleasure in her heart. 

An hour passed away; it was becoming quite 
warm as the noontime approached. Her head 
was beginning to ache, and, with a weary gesture, 
she pushed a stray lock from her temple. As she 
did so the door opened and someone softly ap- 
proached her. 

‘^Come unto me, all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my 
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek 
and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto 
your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is 
light. 

As the strong, musical voice ceased, Lila, with 
a new light in her blue eyes, looked up. He was 
holding out one hand and, with the faith of a 
trusting child, she placed hers in it. 

^^Oh, Mr. Void, how your words can brighten 
anyone ! You seem to know just what to say at 
the right time. I had forgotten that Jesus was 
sharinsr my yoke, and I was becomingr weary.” 

^^Which is only just. Miss Landon, since you 
have fulfilled your morning’s duty. Weariness 


44 Ignorance Unveiled. 

need not be discontent, yon know. Blessed are the 
poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of 
Heaven !” 

“How well you know the Bible I” she cried, 
with wistful eyes upraised to his beautiful, soulful 
face. “How I envy you, — oh, how I envy you!’’ 

“You need not, little one. Just remember that, 
^Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness, for they shall be filled.’ Continue 
your hunger and you will be fed. I find that the 
more I long to discover, the less I find myself un- 
filled. Oh, glorious blessing, this belief, this peace 
with God!” 

He spoke this last sentence with one quick, 
lingering breath, his eyes filled with joy unspeak- 
able. 

“And I will yet feel as you do, if I keep on 
thirsting for righteousness ?” she asked, eagerly. 

“Yes, dear. But never, never pause in your 
thirst — ^keep on forever/' 

“I will, I will,” she breathed feverishly. Then 
she drew her hand from his clasp and continued: 

“I am so glad that you have come. You have 
heard of the suicide that was committed this 
morning, have you not?” 

“Yes.” His voice was low and reverent, 

“Then, tell me, Mr. Void, do you think it wrong 
to commit suicide?” 

“There is a commandment, ^Thou shalth not 
kill.’ And he who murders himself or another is 
destroying one of God’s creatures, therefore he is 
breaking the holy commandment 


Ignorance Unveiled. 45 

‘TTou speak as though you have proofs in say- 
ing so.^^ 

have. Miss Landon. Because when a man 
destroys his own life he never does it bravely ; he 
does it in one reckless stroke. He has to encourage 
himself, he has to put all thoughts of the here- 
after from him; and that very action proves that 
he fears the future, that he dares not think long 
on what may be the consequences of his folly.^^ 

‘‘Then you think that some people pause in the 
act?^^ Her breathing was intense. 

“Yes, because the fear, the dread, the unfathom- 
able inner-sense, warns him that there is something 
more bitter to come ; and that dread would humble 
him to submission — ^he would live and righteously 
brave all ills of life. I believe that were we to 
read the souls of some of our nearest and dearest 
friends and daily acquaintances, we would he 
surprised at the many who have been tempted to 
self-destruction, and yet had the will to let their 
true Christian belief come in time to save them 
from 

“From what?” 

“Perhaps from the barred door of heaven — ^who 
knows ?” 

“Then tell me, Mr. Yoid, do you think that 
praying for the suicide would help him any?” 

“No, my friend, no ! God is not the God of the 
dead, but of the living. Death takes the soul past 
the healing of prayer. It leaves the spirit in the 
hands of God. Save your prayers for the living. 
Some need it badly enough. Heaven knows. But 
no prayer, not even prayer of the most earnest 


46 Ignorance Unveiled. 

and implicit faith, can help a ruined soul as a 
prayer from the soul itself."” 

^‘What do you mean by that?^^ 

“I mean that your mission is doubly fulfilled if 
you can encourage a man to pray for himself. 
Your prayer may help him, but unless the prayer 
comes in faith from his own lips, he is not saved ! 
Believe me, he is not. For, without belief and 
trust in God, one is lost !” 

As he ceased speaking she raised tear-wet eyes 
to his. 

"How blind, how hopelessly blind I have been,” 
she half sobbed. "Oh, Mr. Void, if I had only 
known, I could have saved Jack Biron from his 
fearful death ! I have had the chance, each day, 
to speak to him, to uphold him from his down- 
ward course, and yet I thought nothing of it. The 
others only laughed when they heard of his wild 
ways, and I was utterly careless.” 

"See that you do not lose another chance, dear,” 
he gently replied. "When speaking of the judg- 
ment day to come, Jesus said, ^Then shall the 
King say unto them on His right hand. Come, ye 
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared 
for you from the foundation of the world : For I 
was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was 
thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, 
and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me: I 
was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and 
ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you. Inas- 
much as ye have done it unto one of the least of 
these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. And 
if ye do not this unto my brethren, you do it not 


Ignorance Unveiled. 47 

to me : and ye shall go away to everlasting punish- 
ment.^ 

A sharp little cry escaped Lila’s lips. She bent 
toward him, her face pale and frightened. 

‘^Then since I have not done right toward Jack 
Biron, shall I be put away to everlasting punish- 
ment ?” 

He smiled gently, as he would to a child. 

‘^Ho, Miss Landon, not if you will be more 
watchful in the future, and do some of these 
things. Eemember Jesus said, ‘Inasmuch as ye 
have done it unto one of the least of these my 
brethren, ye have done it unto me !’ ” 

“I shall remember,” she said simply, a flush of 
hope on her fair face. “Oh, how your words up- 
lift my thoughts to nobler purposes ! No wonder 
that you do so much good. How proud you must 
feel.” 

“Nay, my child, I feel only humble in the 
thought that I am serving God. It is the duty of 
every good man to teach his faith in God to others, 
and to teach all the holy commandments of right- 
eousness to them; for Jesus ordered His eleven 
disciples to do so !” 

“I see,” she answered, wistfully. “I am very 
ignorant.” 

“No, you mean that you are gaining wisdom. 
Your soul has been veiled, but now you are letting 
the faith of Jesus Christ enter into it. Soon you 
will be in Jesus; then all will be well.” 

“Oh, Mr. Void, are you sure?” 

“Certain; if you will never pause to quench 
your present thrist.” 


48 Ignorance Unveiled. 

‘‘1 promise you that I won^t 
A gentle hand was placed over hers. 

“No, dear, promise not me. Promise God.^^ 

She half bowed her head, feeling as though a 
prayer was uttered for her, so deep and reverent 
was his voice. Then as she looked up he said: 

“Now I shall leave you. I am to dine with 
Eugene and have a talk with him. Then my 
afternoon will be spent, as usual, among the poor.'^ 
She caught her breath. 

Among the poor ! You have been with them/^ 
“I am always with the poor,^^ he responded, 
smilingly. “I am poor myself, Miss Landon.^^ 

She laughed. “Then I am not afraid to be your 
friend,^^ she retorted, gaily. “Please call on 
mamma and me while you are making your 
rounds.^^ 

“Thank you, I shall be pleased to do so. I have 
been waiting for the invitation.^^ 

And then, bidding her adieu, he left the store. 
That evening when Lila arrived home, she re- 
membered that she was to take Laury’s little 
baskets to the home of Miss Lake, the heiress. 

“And when I return, you shall have a shining 
half-dollar!” she cried, gaily, as she carefully 
wrapped the ten baskets and tied them securely. 
“Just think of it, mother. Our little Laury earn- 
ing fifty cents a day. Why, he ought to be con- 
tented with half that much !” 

“That is the truth, Laury, dear,” replied Mrs. 
Landon, with a fond look at her child. “So don't 
work too steadily, my darling.” 

“No danger of that, mother,” Laury laughed. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


49 


^^Why, I have been dreaming under the chestnut 
tree all the afternoon. But I made five baskets 
this morning, so as to have ten in all.” 

Lila kissed him lovingly, and then put on her hat. 
hurry and be back in time so as not to 
keep you waiting supper for me, mother,” she 
said, smilingly, and then she took the baskets, and 
nodding gaily at Laury, left the room. 

He waved at her from the window as she closed 
the gate, and she was thinking of his bright, happy 
face as she started on. 

^^Oh, how happy Miss Blake surely is,” she 
murmured, as she hurried along. ‘^How she can 
help the poor and lighten the burdens of the sick. 
Think how much pleasure her half-dollar will give 
to our patient Laury. Ah, she surely does not 
half realize how much joy her little act of kind- 
ness is bringing; and what a slight effort it is for 
her to buy these dainty little baskets.” 

Soon she reached the beautiful stone residence 
on the hillside, and springing lightly up the 
marble steps, she crossed the portico and rang the 
bell. A servant opened the door to her, and she 
made her errand known. 

^Terhaps she may see you, miss,” he said, re- 
spectfully. ^^But I’m not sure.” 

He conducted her into the magnificent reception- 
room, and then disappeared. Lila looked calmly 
about her. 

‘T wouldn’t like to live among such luxuries,” 
she was thinking. “The cost of that painting over 
the mantel would feed a poor family for months, 
and that gold vase would pay many a doctor’s bill. 


50 IgiK)rance Unveiled. 

I should like to be able to help others, but I 
wouldn’t like to have such expensive things about 
me. Since we get all our treasures in heaven, 
what is the use in keeping them with us here ?” 

For several moments she waited patiently; then 
as she thought of her watching mother, she moved 
restlessly. 

ought to be contented to wait for that which 
will make Laury so happy,” she thought, reproach- 
fully, and she tried to feel comfortable as she 
leaned back in the rich chair of silk and plush. 
Then she sat up, as the servant came through the 
parted curtains. 

‘^Mistress has a headache and cannot come down, 
miss,” he said, regretfully. ^‘But you are to leave 
the baskets and she will pay you some other time.” 

Quietly, Lila arose and allowed the servant to 
show her to the door. Not until she was on the 
sidewalk, beneath the star-lit sky, did she realize 
that this heiress, lying among costly luxuries, was 
too intent in herself to think of a poor child’s 
happiness. 

‘^Can such things be?” Lila asked herself, and 
then she slipped a silver half-dollar from her own 
well-worn purse. ^^Laury shall have his pay to- 
night if it takes my last cent,” she murmured 
tearfully. “Never shall my darling know the sel- 
fish truth !” 

Then as she hurried homeward, Lila compre- 
hended what Jesus meant when He said: “A rich 
man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

“I am thankful to be poor,” she thought. “My 
riches shall be in heaven !” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


51 


CHAPTEE IV. 


And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in 
prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 

♦ ♦ ♦ 

While he remained in Hannibal, Eugene Davert 
always resided at his fathers handsome residence, 
which was a three-story, brick building, situated 
two blocks from the Mississippi River. Two faith- 
ful servants were hired to look after the house 
while the masters were away, and everything was 
in readiness whenever they came on one of theii; 
many business trips. Upon this day the young 
master had invited Lauren Void to dine with him, 
and the two had just finished the meal. 

As Eugene arose, he said : 

^‘You drink wine, I see.’^ 

^^Yes,^^ was the quiet reply, ^Tor Jesus did so. 
There is no harm in drinking it, my friend, if one 
does not tempt himself to drink too much. One 
glass a day more than satisfies me 

Davert started toward the door, and then he 
paused. 

^^But do you smoke, Lauren?’^ 

confess that I do not. I have a great dislike 
for the weed. Jesus has spoken of anointing one’s 


52 Ignorance Unveiled. 

self, but he did not say to do so with the scent of 
tobacco smoke/^ 

Eugene laughed aloud, although he saw that his 
friend was speaking earnestly. ^^Then you think 
there is no harm in smoking 

“Yes, I think there is, when a man deprives his 
family of necessities to buy the tobacco. There 
is but one clear reason why men smoke and chew 
the plant.^^ 

“What is that?’^ 

“Simply because they are nervous, and while 
they have something to chew or handle they feel 
steadier, — that is, for the time being. Many men 
will not believe this, but it is plain truth. Though 
it soothes the nerves, men do not seem to realize 
that they would be much healthier without it."’^ 

At this juncture the door opened and the old 
man servant started to enter the room. Upon see- 
ing that they had not yet withdrawn, he started 
to retreat. Near this door was a palm in a large, 
expensive vase, and as he hurriedly turned, he, in 
some way, tilted the plant, and the vase went 
crashing to the floor. With a frightened face, the 
old man uttered a low cry and tried to save the 
fragments. 

Eugene, his fact white with anger, snatched the 
tongs from the hearth and sprang toward the 
trembling servant. 

“How dared you? Do you not know that your 
masters prized that vase more dearly than any- 
thing else in the house? Confound you, I shall 
beat you to death! Never again shall you enter 
the services of this household.^^ 


Ignorance Unveiled. 53 

With quivering lips the old negro crouched in 
the corner, his eyes pleading like a dumb brute^s. 
N’o word escaped him as the tongs came flying 
toward his old, gray head. 

A calm, firm hand grasped Eugene’s, and the 
weapon of intended cruelty was wrenched from his 
grasp. 

^^Nay, my friend,” said Lauren Void. "Ee- 
member what Jesus said: ^Inasmuch as ye show 
mercy to the least of these my brethren, ye have 
shown it unto me.’ Though this man be your 
servant, Eugene Davert, the Creator who created 
you, created him also; and as God gave to you a 
soul, so he gave one unto this man. Show mercy, 
my friend, before it is too late to have mercy 
shown you.” 

As though pierced to the heart by these words, 
the young master shuddered visibly; then, in a 
husky whisper, he said: 

^^Come, my faithful man, I was angry, — ^beside 
myself. I mean you no harm ; the accident could 
not have been avoided, I see. I might have done 
the same thing myself. Forget my words, they 
were the words of blinded anger.” 

Then he extended his white, Jeweled hand and 
raised the trembling old negro to his feet. With 
his dim eyes full of gratitude the servant looked 
at his master, then he turned his gaze upon Mr. 
Void, and if ever human eyes expressed love and 
thanks, his did. 

‘^God bless you, master, God bless you,” he 
mumbled, reverently. 


54 Ignorance Unveiled. 

^Thank you. Burton,” was Mr. Void’s gentle 
reply. “1 spoke for you, my friend, as I would 
for any of my brethren.” 

Then he turned and followed Eugene from the 
room. They walked along the luxurious hall and 
entered the splendid library. The young master 
seated himself near the window and beckoned 
Lauren Void to a chair near by. 

^^You called that negro servant your brother, 
Lauren ?” 

^^Yes, for such did Jesus Christ call everyone. 
Why should we not? We are all of the same 
Father.” 

Davert leaned eagerly forward. 

^‘You have been very patient with me, Lauren. 
Do you never lose control of yourself ?” 

"No, my friend. Eeligion is like hypnotism. 
The mind is easily guided if the soul is anxious to 
be filled ; but when the soul is against filling, then 
the converter must be patient unto endurance, for 
such was Jesus Christ.” 

"Your words conquered my anger just now,” 
was the brief response. "It may be because I am 
in a sad mood, Lauren. I have lost Lila Landon 
forever. I feel as thousrh I could do anything to 
win her respect. I fear that she hates me.” 

"Nay, she pities, but she does not hate you! 
Eugene, your conduct toward her was too sinful 
to hate, for if she had fallen, you, too, would have 
shared the broken commandment. By her mother’s 
faith in God, she is placed beyond the clutches of 
compunction. Had the child been innocent, you 


Ignorance Unveiled. 55 

could have ruined her through her ignorance only ! 
Not through her inclination to do wrong 

‘^But, Lauren, I offered her marriage and she 
refused. She could have made a good man of me 
had she accepted.^^ 

A quick breath came from Laurents parted lips. 

‘^You insulted the child, Eugene,” was the calm 
reply. ^^Had you but offered honor in the first 
place, you would not be here repenting. She was 
right in refusing a man who had tempted her 
downfall. When a woman marries, she deserves a 
husband whom she knows will respect and love 
her.” 

Eugene winced and partly turned his face away. 

‘^Well, I am avenged,” he murmured, with pale 
face. can but admit that I keenly feel the great 
disappointment that I have dealt myself. I feel 
sorrowful, and yet I cannot feel angry.” 

"And why should you feel angry, Eugene ? You 
tempted yourself in this wrong; it is but just that 
you should feel humble. My friend, sorrow 
wrings the words of feeling from the heart. If 
our lives were all happiness, we would be too joyous 
to pray. If but for sorrow, disappointments, 
deaths, our Saviour would, many times, be for- 
gotten. Through sorrow. He seeks our hearts; 
through sorrow, we seek His presence.” 

"But can you call Him a loving Saviour when 
He gives us sorrow?” 

"Ah, yes, indeed! For in sorrow He gives us 
consolation; in disappointments He encourages 
us ; in death He gives us heaven, — if we will but 
seek these of Him. They will not come unsought.” 


56 Ignorance Unveiled. 

yes, death will ^ 

‘‘Yes, my brother, but not true death. Were I 
to read a sinful man^s mind at death, I would 
shudder. Were I to read a good man^s mind at 
death, I would envy him the smile of peace that 
grew on his cold lips. The first would be false 
death; the second, true, pure death: — death that 
breathes of all the blissful pleasures of heaven.^^ 

“But what would be the breath of the false 
death 

“No earthly person knows; that lies beyond the 
grave.’’ 

“Then you do not think that a sinful man and 
a good man share the same pleasures in heaven?” 

“No, no, my brother, no ! Not unless the sinful 
man fully repents before death, and feels that he 
is forgiven, for you know: He forgives you sev- 
enty times seven times. For as you forgive your 
brother’s trespasses, so likewise shall your Heavenly 
Father forgive you. There would be no purpose in 
the earthly existence, no use in striving for right, 
were good and bad to share alike in heaven. How 
God deals with sinful souls. He alone knows !” 

“Then you think it never too late to repent ?” 

“Yes. Believe, repent in deadly earnest, and 
you are saved; for Jesus died to save the sinners.” 

“Then, tell me, do you think that a good man 
and repentant sinner share the same pleasures of 
heaven ?” 

“I think so, for Jesus said to the robber : ‘Thou 
shalt be with me in Paradise.’ Men, with their 
souls in Christ, are equals.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 57 

^Then Jesus surely knows as well what the 
bad man, who never repents deserves.’^ 

^‘He does, my friend, for did He not say in one 
of His parables, that upon the servants asking their 
master if they should gather up the tares among 
the wheat, the master answered : ‘Nay, lest while 
ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat 
with them. Let both grow together until the 
harvest ; and in the time of harvest, I will say to 
the reapers. Gather ye together first the tares, and 
bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather 
the wheat into my barn.^ 

“He meant the good people as the wheat, and 
the bad ones as the tares, did He not ?” 

“Yes, dear brother.^^ 

“Then that tells you what God does with the bad 
ones. You see it says: Gather ye together first 
the tares, and bind them into bundles to burn 
them.^^ 

“You are mistaken, my friend. Jesus, remem- 
ber, was speaking in parables. I know He said 
hum, but souls cannot be burnt. He said. Gather 
the wheat into ’my ham, but a barn is not at all 
like heaven, is it?” 

The listener's eyes opened with dawning excite- 
ment. 

“Good heavens, if I could reason things out as 
you do, I believe Td go wild!” he cried. “How 
wonderful !” Then suddenly he paused. 

“But, see here, when Jesus explained that par- 
able to His disciples. He did say that the tares 
were the children of the wicked one; that they 
would be cast into the furnace of fire; that there 


58 Ignorance Unveiled. 

would be wailing and gnashing of teeth. After 
air^ — with a deep sigh — ^‘^you are not exactly 
right/' 

“Of course, unrepented sin must have its punish- 
ment, my dear brother, — ^that is only just. Bodies 
may blaze in deathly torture, but I tell you again 
that souls, or spirits, cannot burn!" 

“And why do you think this?" — with intense 
eagerness. 

“Because our Lord God is merciful!" 

A deep hush followed this last fervent sentence. 

A glow of hidden emotion had leaped into Dav- 
ert's dark eyes. He bent nearer his friend and 
placed one trembling hand on Mr. Void's arm. 

“Lauren, I want to live in Christ as you are 
doing. I am sinful, cruel, passionate; do you 
think that if I repent faithfully I can be for- 
given ?" 

“Eugene, let God keep your soul and you are 
saved. Strive for His good-will, and show mercy 
to every living being, so that He will show mercy 
unto you." 

^^Lauren, I will, I will. My friend, my brother, 
will you pray for me ?" 

“Yes, Eugene, I can pray for you, but I cannot 
do your praying. My friend, J esus sent the multi- 
tudes away and went up into a mountain apart to 
pray; and when the evening was come. He was 
there alone. Go, thou, and do likewise. Pray for 
yourself in secret, and then return to me." 

He pressed the young man's hand, then turned 
away. 

“Be with God," he whispered; and then, as 


59 


Ignorance Unveiled. 

Davert left the room, Lauren bowed his head upon 
the window-sill, and a strange, peaceful silence 
filled the room. ‘‘Loving Saviour, another soul 
seeks thy salvation; I pray Thee, turn him not 
away. Let him live in Christ, as he seeks to live 
They were simple words, but a heart of faithful 
longing was their foundation. As surely as God 
hears and answers prayer of belief, so He heard 
and answered that one. 

Ten minutes later, Lauren Void arose, his face 
one humble glow of gratitude. The door had 
opened. Davert came toward him and they 
clasped hands. 

“My brother, your eyes, your face tells me all 
“Yes, yes! I felt His presence everywhere! 
He gave me strength; He comforted me. The 
words for help escaped my lips before I was aware. 
I had only Him to lean upon. I prayed to Him 
as you never could have prayed for me!’^ 

A deep, emotional silence followed. Then 
gently, earnestly, Lauren spoke: 

“Ay, my friend, such is prayer in deadly earnest. 
Such is the prayer that God will answer. Such is 
the prayer that will forever keep you from tempta- 
tion, if you will let it pass your lips in purest faith, 
day after day, hour after hour, if need be. My 
brother, Jesus said, ‘All things whatsoever ye shall 
ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.^ See 
how clearly we realize the truth of that speech; 
When you are tempted to do wrong, go into a 
silent room and pray. When you arise you will 
no longer tempt yourself. You will think, ‘I can- 


6o Ignorance Unveiled. 

not now sin, for the eyes of my Saviour are upon 
me, and He is leading me/ When you do this 
you are a true Christian, for you have given your- 
self to Christ/^ 

‘^Lauren,^^ said Eugene, huskily, “when you first 
rebuked me in my sinful acts I hated you, — yes, 
hated you. Now, my dearest friend, I thank God 
that you have lifted me from the pit of ignorance. 
What can I do to thank you 

“This, Eugene. Come what will, forever believe 
in God, and in so believing you cannot sin.^^ 

“Lauren, you have saved me !” 

“No, God has; without His aid I would be 
powerless. And now, my friend, I will leave you 
for to-day. While I am gone, think of how you can 
make your life one path of righteousness.^^ 

They clasped hands for the second time, and 
then Lauren Void walked from the room. Taking 
his hat from the hall-tree, he went from the house 
and started along the street. He had gone several 
blocks, and was walking thoughtfully along, when 
the. frightened weeping of a child fell upon his 
ears. 

He looked up quickly and saw that he was pass- 
ing by the home of his friend, Mr. Marvin. This 
gentleman was in his front yard, just now holding 
the crying child by one arm, while he dealt several 
forcible blows of the twig upon the little one’s 
shoulders. 

“I shall teach you to obey me !” he was angrily 
commanding. “If you do it again, I shall lock 
you up in the basement.” 

Lauren Void turned, retraced his steps to the 


Ignorance Unveiled. 6i 

front gate, and hurried along the path to his 
friend^s side. 

‘^Mr. Marvin, he said, gravely, pray you to 
consider before you continue with this punishment. 
What has the child done to vex you 

With a highly flushed face, the man relinquished 
his hold on the child, and, turning, faced the 
visitor. 

“Why, hello, Lauren ! Glad to see you, indeed ! 
What has the child done to vex me ? Well, he will 
persist in eating those green apples, and I have re- 
peatedly told him to leave them alone.” 

“Have you told him why you do not wish him to 
eat them ?” 

Mr. Marvin looked astonished. 

“Why, IVe told him that theyfll make him sick, 
of course. What else is there to tell him ?” 

Lauren extended his hand to the weeping child, 
and drew him near. 

“Now, my little man,” he said, gently, “do you 
like those green apples?” 

“Yes, sir,” was the bashful reply, while two 
chubby flsts were rubbing the overflowing eyes. 

“Do you like it when they make you sick?” 

“No, sir!” with a shy glance at the beautiful, 
wistful face above him. 

“Do you like to be sick, and have your mother 
lose her sleep to sit up with you, and make you take 
bitter medicine ?” 

“No, sir, I don’t!” — this with emphasis. 

“Then, little one, why do you eat the apples?” 

Two big, wondering eyes were lifted to the grave 
ones above him. 


62 Ignorance Unveiled. 

never saw before how wrong it was/’ he said, 
slowly. Then he turned to his father. “Why 
didn’t you tell me this, papa, ’stead of whippin’ 
me ?” 

Mr. Marvin, coloring and paling, remained 
silent. 

The child turned again to Lauren. 

“It’s hard to keep from eatin’ ’em,” he con- 
fessed, shyly. 

“You say your prayers, don’t you, dear?” 

“Oh, yes, sir, ev’ry night ’fore I go to bed.” 

“Then, Bobby, to-night when you pray, tell 
Jesus that you will not eat any more green apples 
and make your mamma trouble. Then when you 
are tempted to eat them say to yourself: Tapa 
loves me and doesn’t want me to eat them and 
make myself sick. And since I’ve promised J esus, 
I won’t eat any more.’ Will you do this, little 
one ?” 

Two quivering lips were raised for a kiss. 

“I will, sir,” was the willing reply, “for mamma 
says I must do anything for Jesus.” 

The kiss was given ; then Lauren turned to Mr. 
Marvin and gently took the twig from that man’s 
hand. 

“Jesus said. Spare not the rod, Mr. Marvin, but 
you have the wrong sort of rod. I have just now 
used the rod of which Jesus spoke. Spare not the 
rod means : Teach your children righteousness 
through the rod of faith in God ! You are blindly 
following the downward path of ignorance. Let 
me raise the veil from off your eyes, mv friend. 
You see how eagerly and willingly your child took 


Ignorance Unveiled. 63 

the rod of which J esus spoke ; do you understand 
me ?” 

^‘ 1 — gasped Mr. Marvin, ^‘ 1 — why, you aston- 
ish me ! After all these years of reading the Bible 
I never realized how wrong I was ! Good heavens 1 
who would have thought it 

‘^Aye, my friend, men may know the laws of the 
world, and yet be ignorant of the Bible. Men may 
have gained all the knowledge that colleges teach 
and yet be ignorant of the holy commandments. 
Men may have read the Bible again and again, and 
still be going blindly along the pathway of de- 
struction. It is for us, who live in Christ, to 
unveil this ignorance to the poor and great alike; 
and as we save souls, so will these souls save 
others.’’ 

^‘Eight, right !” Mr. Marvin earnestly responded. 
^Gf there were a little more religion in Congress 
we would have more profitable laws, I think !” 

^^You are speaking truly. Some of to-day’s 
laws are cruelly destructive, especially to wives and 
mothers.” 

Lauren Void turned suddenly and pointed down 
the street. 

‘^Do you see that small, white cottage at the 
corner there?” he asked, gravely. 

^^Yes. A middle-aged woman, who takes in sew- 
ing for a livelihood, lives there, doesn’t she? I 
got my wife to give her some needle work to do.” 

^^Thank you, Mr. Marvin; I am continually 
hearing of your own and your wife’s good works, 
and I claim you as a brother in Christ, so I shall 
tell you the true facts of that poor woman’s life. 


64 Ignorance Unveiled. 

^^Mrs. Blunt was once a happy wife, and mother 
of three healthy, religious children. Her husband 
was a prosperous farmer, and their many acts of 
kindness were known through the country. Sud- 
denly, Mr. Blunt died of apoplexy, leaving no will 
behind him. When the estates were at last settled, 
Mrs. Blunt discovered that she had only the home 
and a few acres of land left. Then misfortune 
seemed to pursue her. Diphtheria broke out in 
the family. First, her little son expired, and her 
heart was nearly broken; then her eldest child, a 
daughter, died of the fatal malady, and only one 
little girl was left. The dead children were buried, 
and the disease seemed to have left the last child 
to her. But one day the little girl came in from 
her play and said: ‘Mother, while I was sitting 
under the cherry tree my sister came to me and 
said, “Be happy, Ethel, you will soon be with 
me.'’^ ^ * 

“The child’s words frightened Mrs. Blunt so 
that she kept the most solicitous care of her only 
daughter, but a week later the dreaded disease had 
taken this little one, too. Then the poor, heart- 
broken mother sold her home to pay the doctor’s 
bill and the funeral expenses, and with the little 
gold that she had left she came here. She sought 
work, but her grief and cares had so weakened her 
physical strength that she could not do hard labor, 
and the consequences were that she drifted into a 
life of shame. While she was emerging from a 


* This is a true incident which happened in 
Hannibal several years ago. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


65 


saloon one night I met her with a group of drunken 
men. I drew her aside and spoke to her. You 
know the rest. I saved her, and there she lives in 
that cottage, a repentant sinner, her soul in God’s 
keeping and a prayer of thanks on her lips every 
hour for having been saved from destruction.^^ 
indignantly. 

‘^And this is the law’s work !” cried Mr. Marvin, 

‘‘Yes,” murmured Lauren Void. “If Congress 
would pass a law that the wife should inherit all, 
as the husband does, all would be well. Where 
men should uphold and protect the weaker sex, 
they are trampling them down. Congress is the 
key to many a woman’s downfall. No wonder 
that women are becoming masculine and independ- 
ent in their ideas ; they are forced to be so by the 
law of man. Can a true woman be expected to 
remain in the family circle and be the guide and 
brightness of the home, as God intended her to be, 
when she has no home, and is compelled to do the 
labor of a man? No! It is impossible. In 
strength and education, man may be superior to 
woman; but in the eyes of God woman is the 
superior of man. And the day will yet come when 
woman will be the equal of man on earth ; when it 
will be woman’s law as well as man’s law that rules 
the destiny of this world.” 

“I fear you are right,” said Mr. Marvin, with 
a comical grimace. “Well, bless ’em, they deserve 
it.” 

They clasped hands, and after kissing Bobby 
once more, Lauren took his departure. 


66 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


want to have a longer talk with yon one of 
these days/^ said Marvin. 

^‘You are always welcome at my rooms/^ Lauren 
answered. ^‘1 would not leave so soon, but I have 
an appointment with Miss Lake, the heiress.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


67 


CHAPTER V. 


For whosoever shall exalt himself, shall be 
abased; and he that shall humble himself, shall 
be exalted. 

♦ * 

The lights were shining brightly in the luxurious 
drawing-room of Miss Lakeys home. Although an 
heiress, she was an orphan, and an elderly aunt 
lived with her as a companion. This evening the 
aunt was not present, and Maud was walking rest- 
lessly about over the velvet carpet, her eyes spark- 
ling strangely, her thoughts evidently centered 
upon an absorbing idea that made her unconscious 
of an3rthing near her. 

This was not the first time that she had been ex-< 
pecting the arrival of Lauren Void. They had 
known each other for months already, and yet he 
had failed to awaken her soul to the responsive 
chords of righteousness. He would tell her to 
help the poor, and she would do it ; he would tell 
her to pray, and she did so ; he would talk to her 
for hours at a time about Jesus Christ, his musical 
voice becoming more wistful and pained as he 
failed to arouse any glow of faith in her dark ey®s. 
She would listen with her head respectfully bent, 
but that was all. She was an enigma to him, and 


68 Ignorance Unveiled. 

yet he never faltered. He believed that she was 
hungering for something to awaken her soul to a 
higher cause, and he would endure monthly, ay, 
yearly rebuke, if he could but open her soul to 
Christ. 

People who knew her called Maud Lake a strange 
creature. She was too still, too secretive for them, 
and her indifferent moods in no way attracted 
friends to her. Though wealthy, she went little 
into society, and often when people sent her in- 
vitations she would return the cards unread. But 
she was rich, and many of her faults were over- 
looked, and to those in higher society she was “a 
dear, sweet girl, but just a bit peculiar, you know.^^ 

On this night, Maud Lakeys calmness seemed 
greatly ruffled, and the rich lace over her bosom 
rose and fell in half-suppressed excitement. She 
had paused before a window and was gazing un- 
seeingly out into the creeping darkness. 

^^Mr. Void,^^ announced the servant, as he 
ushered the visitor into the room. Then the door 
closed and they were alone. 

She did not move as he came across the room 
toward her and paused close by her side. 

‘‘'Maud, my dear friend, may I hope that you are 
thinking of our loving Saviour, who sends sweet 
night to everyone, so that the weary may rest and 
the ill may sleep in peaceful bliss 

She turned to him then, an odd little smile on 
her lips. 

“No, I was thinking of you only,” she said, 
drylv. “Pray be seated. I was nearlv in dream- 
land.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 69 

Instead of obeying her he placed one firm hand 
over hers. 

“Maud, how can you live alone, day after day, 
and yet not think of heavenly things ? Surely you 
think of evil if you do not think of righteousness. 
Tell me, please, of what you do think. You are 
so secretive, my friend, that I cannot unveil your 
soul as I am accustomed to doing. I came here 
to-night positively determined to make you ask me 
questions, instead of choosing the subject myself.'^’ 

She did not draw away, but she half turned her 
gaze toward the window. For a moment she was 
silent and he stood watching her. 

She had a long, dark face, her cheek-bones high 
and prominent, with a deep, irregular flush near 
the eyes, — more like the flush from fever, but still 
natural and unbecoming, causing her black eyes 
to stare out like leaden coals, darkly painted. Her 
hands, though long and slender, were white as 
snow, and her arms and shoulders were all that 
could be desired. Her lips, her only handsome 
feature, were curved, red and seductive in every 
way. She wore a strange, serpent-like ring on her 
little finger, which gleamed with a dark, hard 
glare and repulsed the eyes, causing one to read 
and yet not read the deep or shallow soul of the 
wearer: which, who could rightly tell? No one, 
he thought, until one had become as confidential 
as possible with her. He wondered how long it 
would be before she would allow him to penetrate 
the depths of her strange, secretive, veiled soul. 
Veiled it was, he knew, from the shadows that 


70 Ignorance Unveiled. 

seemed to rest and hover in her eyes, now hidden 
by the long, dark lashes. 

He looked until an unconscious sigh escaped his 
lips. 

“Maud, have you nothing to say to me 

With a slow, graceful movement, she turned to 
him. 

“Lauren, tell me, were I to live a life with one 
sole aim to help, comfort and make others happy, 
and do all the good I possibly could, and yet never 
believe in God, would I be saved 

“Ho, Maud, no! For Jesus said unto the chief 
priests and the elders : ^For John came unto you 
in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him 
not; but the publicans and the harlots believed 
him; and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not 
afterward, that ye might believe him.^ So that 
tells us that were a sinful person to repent and 
believe in God, he would be better than you, were 
you to lead such a life.^^ 

“I cannot think so.^^ 

“Just bring reason to your aid and you can. 
Eemember that Jesus said, ‘So the least shall be 
first, and the first least. ^ Without belief in God, 
Maud, no one can be saved. What, my friend, 
would save him?” 

“Hothing ; you have me there !” 

“But, Maud, I cannot think that you do not 
believe in God.” 

“Well, no, I do think there is a God, but I can- 
not think nor feel more.” 

“Then the time will come when you will go 
further, when you will learn to love and fear your 


Ignorance Unveiled. 71 

Saviour as any true Christian does. Maud, to do 
this, you must work for Him. In doing good to 
those less fortunate than you, you will be traveling 
toward the Cross. Your life has been too uniform 
for your emotional nature. No, do not raise those 
indignant eyes, Maud. I have learnt that, once in 
the faith of Christ, you would be one of His most 
faithful servants. My friend, true sorrow is what 
would take your soul to Christ.” 

He was surprised at the fearful paleness that 
crept over her face; for a moment her strength 
left her, and she leaned against him, her form 
trembling perceptibly. 

‘^Maud, forgive me. Have I frightened you? 
What is it, little one, are you not well ?” 

With a great effort she controlled herself and 
moved slightly from him. 

‘^Tell me,” she panted, her eyes glowing, “tell 
me, when people die, do their spirits go at once to 
heaven, or do they linger awhile on earth ?” 

“As soon as a person is dead, Maud, his spirit 
is gone into the hands of God. I have been with 
too many death scenes not to know that. Dust 
thou art, and to dust thou shalt return. And since 
spirits never moulder, they could not turn to dust ; 
spirits live forever, but not on earth.” 

“Why are you not proud of yourself?” she 
asked, breathlessly, her glowing eyes lifted to his. 
“Think of all that you have done !” 

“Yes, of all that I have done,” he murmured, 
humbly. “Do you remember what Jesus said, 
Maud? ‘Whosoever will be great among you, let 
him be your minister ; and whosoever will be chief 


72 Ignorance Unveiled. 

among you, let him be your servant; even as the 
Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to 
minister and to give His life as a ransom for many.^ 
My good work serves only to deepen my humility ; 
for, through humility, I gain the will of God; 
wherefore, were I to become vain and proud, 1 
would lose all that I have gained. For whosoever 
shall exalt himself, shall be abased; and he that 
shall humible himself, shall be exalted.’’^ 

^‘1 understand you,^^ she said, scarcely above a 
whisper. “Then, Lauren, it would be sinful, would 
it not, were I to worship an earthly being and not 
worship God?” 

Her head was turned aside and he was not aware 
of the wild excitement in her eyes. 

“Sinful ? — ah, yes, indeed, my friend. For 
when the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of 
the world and the glory of them, and said, ^All 
these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down 
and worship me,’ Jesus replied: ‘Get thee hence, 
Satan; for it is written. Thou shalt worship the 
Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thon serve.’ ” 

A look of deepest pain had lined her face, and 
she bowed her head as he finished speaking. A 
moment later she looked up. 

“Why did Jesus say to take no thought of what 
we shall eat, what we shall drink, or of which we 
shall be clothed. How could a person live without 
thinking of the morrow ?” 

“You do not understand His meaning, Maud. 
He said : ‘Seek first the kingdom of God, and His 
righteousness ; and all these things shall be added 
unto you/ He meant to live in the thought of 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


73 


heaven, not to live for only the morrow^s pleasures 
and necessities. When Jesus spoke of the ending 
of the world He said, ‘Watch therefore: for ye 
know not what hour your Lord doth come.^ There- 
fore you should live your life as though each day 
will end it. Do kind acts each hour if possible, so 
that when death comes it will find your record irre- 
proachable as you can make it. With such a life 
of righteousness you will find that you can also 
have clothes, and food, and drink.” 

“How well you understand it all,” she mur- 
mured, falteringly. “While you talk I feel as 
though something is pleading for my soul, and I 
want to surrender ; but I cannot, I cannot.” 

Sobbingly she buried her face in her hands and 
turned away. But a strong arm closed around her 
waist, and Lauren’s voice, pleading and wistfully 
firm, murmured to her : 

“Maud, Maud, you must surrender. Break this 
will of yours, and your soul will be in Christ’s 
keeping. Now is your time, Maud, while a higher 
power is grasping your soul. Kneel, pray to your 
Creator to keep your surrendered soul in His 
keeping.” 

He clasped her hands, and in her agitation she 
fell upon her knees. 

“Maud, tell God, tell God !” he whispered rever- 
ently in her ear; then, with tear-dimmed eyes, he 
hurried from the room. 

As surely as he had saved other souls, he knew 
that hers was saved. A wild joy stirred in his 
heart as he realized that, so soon, he had succeeded 
in converting her. As he stood on the portico ho 


74 Ignorance Unveiled. 

bared his head beneath the golden moonlight, his 
beautiful face lifted heavenward, the faith and 
trust of a little child in his eyes. 

‘^Oh, my loving Saviour, guide my footsteps as 
Thou hast guided them this day. Two more souls 
have been placed on the Christian roll. Through 
righteousness, dear Lord, nearer and nearer I feel 
Thy hands. Thy presence V’ 

With a deep breath of reverence, he replaced his 
hat and descended the gleaming steps. Once upon 
the sidewalk, he quickened his steps, for at eleven 
o’clock he was to exchange places with a friend 
who was watching beside a sick child. As he 
crossed the street and started down the avenue, he 
saw a lady’s figure a few yards in front of him. 
It seemed strangely familiar, and as he hastened 
forward he recognized Lila Landon. 

^•^Miss Landon,” he called, softly, ^Vill you 
please be merciful and allow me to overtake you? 
I fear ii will be an exhaustive race if you do not.” 

At the sound of his musical voice she paused 
and turned quickly, her pretty face brightening 
with a welcome smile. 

^^You, Mr. Void ! How delightful ! Yes, come to 
me at once. I shall not give you a race to-night; 
I am a hit tired.” 

He reached her side and they fell into step. 

‘^Tired? Just physically, I hope?” 

^^Oh, yes, indeed!” she laughed, understanding 
his meaning. ^^Do not fear about my faith in 
Christ, Mr. Void. ^ly soul, I assure you, will 
never grow weary.” 

^^That’s right, little one,” he responded, gently. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 75 

^^And where have you been that you are returning 
home at this late hour ? It is nearly eleven 
o^clock/^ 

“Yes, I know it is late; that accounts for my 
hurrying so. I fear that mother will remain awake 
for my return, so I am solicitous on her account. 
I have been to visit Ethel’s mother. Since the 
baby’s birth, Mrs. Trenton is not at all well, and I 
have been with her all the afternoon. The child 
is fretful, too, so you see I had my hands full; 
but I enjoyed it, for before I left both the mother 
and child were sleeping peacefully, and Mrs. Tren- 
ton seemed unusually brightened; much more so 
than she has been for months, so the nurse told 
me.” 

“Bless my little peace-maker,” he said gently. 
“Do you realize, dear, that you are doing all this 
unto Jesus?” 

“Eealize it!” She raised her soulful eyes to 
him, a glow of heavenly light in their depths. 
“Oh, yes, yes, yes ! I was just now thinking that 
I have done something that you do: pleasing 
Christ. No wonder you love such a duty; it 
makes one so happy, so glad in the knowledge that 
their life is fruitful, instead of being thrown away 
in the useless pleasures and sins of this world. 
You have opened my eyes, Mr. Void, and I am 
seeing clearer every moment.” 

“Bless you, dear 1” he cried in gratitude. “I am 
well pleased with you. You are hungering for 
righteousness, and you are being filled. Oh, my 
child, if everyone would turn their faces upward, 
if they would but seek the hand of God and place 


76 Ignorance Unveiled. 

their souls in His keeping ! How easily they could 
do it ; and heaven would be their reward. Instead, 
they live uncertain lives, fearing — they don’t know 
what! But with the work of our lives we shall 
save thousands among thousands.” 

‘^Ah, yes !” she whispered, moving closer to him. 
‘^And — and I hope that we can save Mr. Davert.” 

He saw the deep blush on her fair cheeks as she 
looked shyly up at him. A glow of pleasure leaped 
into his eyes. 

“I was going to tell you, dear,” he said, simply. 
‘^Eugene has given his soul to Christ. I talked 
with him after I left you, and now, — all is well !” 

“You have saved him? Oh, Mr. Void!” 

Her blue eyes were bathed in happy tears. 

“Yes, his soul is saved through you. Miss Lan- 
don. Because he could not win you he was sor- 
rowful. In his sorrow, dear, he sought God. In 
God he found peace.” 

“Then I helped a little, didnT I?” she asked, 
wistfully. “Oh, Mr. Void, if I could only know 
that I had uplifted a soul as you have done I” 

He could not suppress a smile at her childish 
eagerness to follow his example. 

“You may rest assured, then, that you have 
done so. Little one, always keep that desire fore- 
most in your heart ; it is the desire of Christ.” 

“How your words cheer me !” she cried, her face 
radiant with pleasure. “I understand why you are 
so humble. I see now that when I am doing good 
my only wish is to do more, to bring more comfort 
to the troubled, more peace to the ill, more food 
to tho hungry.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 77 

In a fever of sympathy, he turned and caught 
her hand. 

“Little one, you are safe in Christ; fear no 
longer, you are following the right path now.^^ 

“And you have saved me — humbly. 

“Yes; saved you so that you may save others, 
dear. And the more we save, the greater is our 
reward ; for the saved ones continue to save 
others ! Thus we form a rod of faith that grows 
greater daily, being strengthened by the souls that 
link its construction. For, where faith is Chris- 
tianity, the rod will never end I” 

“What a grand, noble work!” she responded, 
her glowing eyes raised to his. They were ap- 
proaching her home now, and the lamplight shone 
from the sitting-room window. 

“I so often think of Ethel,” she said, abruptly^ 
“Mr. Void, have you heard anything about her 
since the elopement?” 

“N’o, dear, nothing. I only hope that she is not 
too miserable in her downfall. If I but knew of 
her whereabouts, I would go to her at once. As it 
is, we must wait.” 

“I only hope that we will not have to wait very 
long,” she said, wistfully. “I love Ethel so well; 
she has been like a sister to me. Have you seen 
her father lately ?” 

A pained look crossed his face. 

“I met him this morning. He looked miserable, 
but I talked to him until he promised to come to 
me each day until his unhappiness was gone. It 
was a pitiful misunderstanding, — the divorce. 
And only through false pride did Mrs. Trenton 


78 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


marry her present husband. It hardly seems that 
a year has passed since the parting, but I am glad 
that at last EtheFs father has come home. I may 
at least save him from evil V’ 

‘^Oh, I hope so! I hope so!” cried Lila, her 
face pale with uneasiness. ^^When I was holding 
Mrs. Trenton^s child on my lap to-day I wanted to 
say: ^You are a child of the wrong father; you 
are the child of a mother who has two living hus- 
bands. Whose child, then, are you?^ Mr. Void, 
it is terrible that such things thrive to existence. 
It frightens me !” 

^^Ignorance is their downfall,” he said, sadly. 
'^It lies in our power to unveil their eyes.” 

They had reached the small front gate and he 
was holding it open for her. 

think that I shall never marry,” she mur- 
mured with a deep sigh. “Marriage, with the laws 
of to-day, presents such a fearful outlook !” 

She raised her eyes, and her gaze became riveted 
to the light in his own. 

“Do not say that, little one. In future days, 
when you learn to love a man who is worthy of 
your keeping, I think that you will justly give 
yourself to him.” 

A deep blush dyed her pretty face; her gaze 
wandered and fell. 

“Perhaps,” she murmured, shyly. 

With an effort he closed the gate and then turned 
to her, as she stood silent on the other side. 

“Your mother and Laury are well, I hope?” 

“Yes, indeed, and Laury has been in excellent 


Ignorance Unveiled. 79 

spirits all day long. He is always wishing that 
you would come and talk to him, though.^^ 

^‘And I shall do so whenever I am off duty. But 
I must not keep you waiting. Good-night, little 
one, and God bless you.” 

‘^Good-night, Mr. Void.” She spoke softly, and 
half bowed her head as he spoke the blessing; 
then she turned and went toward the house. 

He waited to see that she was safely indoors, 
then he turned away. 

“She loves Eugene Davert,” he murmured ; but 
though a deep pain hovered in his dark eyes it did 
not kill the beautiful light of faith that lurked 
therein. 


8o 


Ip^norance Unveiled. 

o 


CHAPTEE VI. 


Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and 
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil 
against you falsely, for my sake ! 

H* * * 

From his dead father, Lauren Void inherited 
quite a large income, but instead of spending it 
for a life of luxury and selfish splendor he let his 
aunt, who was the mother of a large family, reside 
in his own home, and he rented two rooms in the 
home of an old woman, who depended entirely on 
this way to earn a livelihood. 

Old Mrs. Clendon called him her boy, and if 
true love ever dwelt in a human heart it lived in 
her heart for Lauren Void. Her greatest happi- 
ness was in cooking him delicious little dishes and 
making his rooms as bright and cheerful as possi- 
ble. Motherless, and with a heart of love for his 
fellow-creatures, Lauren returned her deep affec- 
tion, and they were as happy as any true mother 
and son could be. 

On as small an amount as possible Lauren sup- 
plied his own daily necessities, and all the re- 
mainder of his income he spent for comforts and 
wants of the poor. He was no more reluctant to 
work than the humblest laborer, and as often as 
he found time he worked as hard as any of them, 


Ignorance Unveiled. 8i 

and gave his earnings to the poor. Although not 
a regular preacher, he often, in the case of illness, 
filled the pulpit for a loving brother; and very 
often people called on him to preach to them. His 
earnest words, straight from a yearning heart, 
touched many souls and led them in peace to 
Christ. And thus he lived, his sole aim in life to 
uplift the souls of his ignorant brethren. 

Although it was ten o’clock on this particular 
morning, he and Mrs. Clendon were still seated at 
the breakfast table, for he had been sitting with 
the sick child since midnight and had had but a 
few hours’ slumber. Always solicitous that he 
should have all the sleep possible, Mrs. Clendon 
would have waited breakfast for him until supper 
time, if such an occurrence were necessary. 

Just now, she was eagerly watching and seeing 
that he took plenty of the fried fish, the dainty, 
buttered toast, and other tempting viands on the 
table. Year in and year out she ate only toast 
and coffee for breakfast, and now, seeing that he 
was eating as heartily as usual, she began her own 
meal with a keen relish of satisfaction. 

^The child is better, I hope, dear?” she said, 
with a quick, little bite at her toast. 

^^Yes, mother, much better, thank you. The 
fever is gone, and this morning as I held Ben’s 
little hand in mine he onened his eyes and said : 
^You have cured mv nain, Lauren, and when T 
first looked up I thought vou were Jesus. I think 
you are very much like Him, anyhow.’ ” 

^^Ah, Lauren, I’ve always told you that children 


82 Ignorance Unveiled. 

know more in their innocence than do grown men 
in their ignorance.^^ 

“The child^s words go to show how near the 
little soul was to heaven, mother. You see he had 
been thinking of Jesus.^^ 

“I think of Jesus quite often, too, dear, when 
you are around,^^ said Mrs. Clendon, softly. 

“Thank you, mother, dear. That must be be- 
cause I am continually dwelling upon His sacred 
work on earth. Oh, blessed Jesus, meek and 
mild I” 

“Lauren,” said Mrs. Clendon, very gently, ‘Tiave 
you ever thought what you should do were I to die 
and leave you alone ?” 

A pained look crept into his dark eyes as he 
winced and raised them to her old, loving face. 

“Die ? Oh, mother, why do you talk so ? Surely 
our merciful Father will spare you several years 
yet. But, still, earth is nothing like heaven, is it, 
mother? — and you would not have a troublesome 
boy to look after there.” 

“Dearest,” said the old lady, reprovingly, “my 
boy is no trouble to me, remember that. And — no, 
I may live quite a long while yet, but, Lauren, I 
should like to see you with a wife by your side 
before I do leave you. Some gentle, Christian 
girl, who will be a comfort and help to you ; some- 
one” — her old voice quivered — “who will love you 
as I do.” 

A strange paleness had crossed his face, and his 
lips, for an instant, compressed with hidden emo- 
tion. 

“Ho one could love me as you do, mother, — no 


Ignorance Unveiled. 83 

one, excepting my own mother, and she is happy 
in heaven.^^ 

There was a slight pause. 

^‘Tell me, Lauren, have you ever thought of 
marrying 

^^Scarcely, mother, for only until lately has 
my heart ever been awakened to a love of that 
order.^^ 

Her eyes brightened. 

‘^Then you are learning to love some sweet girl, 
dear T’ 

was, mother, — until last night; then I dis- 
covered that her heart was centered upon another. 
How my course is to learn to think of her as a 
sister only. I am thankful that my eyes are 
opened before my alfection had taken root. It has 
lived only to die, like a child perishing on its 
mother^s breast. Such is the will of God.’^ 

His musical voice was low but steady, and Mrs. 
Clendon’s eyes of pity brightened considerably. 
Having finished eating she arose, and, going to his 
side, pressed her lips to his white forehead. 

‘‘My darling boy, I am glad, for your sake, that 
the wound has not left a scar. Are you willing to 
speak her name to your old mother 

“Lila Landon, dear,^^ he replied, gently. “You 
see she is not a stranger to you.^^ 

“Ho, indeed, my boy. I have heard a great deal 
of good about her. She would have made you an 
admirable wife, Lauren. She is so thoughtful, so 
loving, so kind.^^ 

“As if I do not realize her good points, mother 
he responded with a half smile, as he raised his 


84 Ignorance Unveiled. 

beautiful face to hers. “She is all that a man 
could desire: — pure, womanly, and with her soul 
in Christas keeping. Ah, I fear that she is far too 
good for me, anyway.^^ 

“Nay, my boy, that is not it. But God knows 
best, darling. Perhaps, by-and-by, some other 
woman will creep into your heart. Lila, my boy, 
is not the only good girl in this world, although 
she be above the average.^^ 

“You are right, mother, but Cupid is a con- 
trary little fellow. He wooes our atfections here 
and there with a rashness that sometimes breaks 
a heart.^^ 

She bent anxiously above him, her eyes gazing 
into his. 

“Lauren, you are speaking the truth to your old 
mother? You are sure that this love can leave 
your heart without a pain ?” 

“No, mother, not without a pain, for what true 
love may do that?” He pressed her dear old, 
wrinkled hand to his lips. “But, last night, when 
I was with her I realized my love, and as I dis- 
covered her heart was another's, I surrendered !” 

“And you are sure, my boy, that this disappoint- 
ment will not shadow your life?” 

He laughed then, a low, pleasing laugh. 

“A disappointment shadow my life, mother? 
No, dearest, it only serves to make my love deeper 
and purer for Christ, for the more griefs that 
come to us, the more we realize that God is our 
greatest and most loving friend. When all the 
world is darkness, when we stand alone without 
an earthly friend, we have God. No matter where 


Ignorance Unveiled. 85 

we be, we have but to look up and lean on Him. 
He will strengthen us if we but ask, for God is 
everywhere !” 

“My darling, you are a good, noble boy! May 
God bless you and bring a deserving happiness to 
you for all your unselfish deeds.^^ 

As he sat with half-bowed head, a low rapping 
echoed on the parlor door. 

“Someone is knocking, said Mrs. Clendon. “I 
shall go and admit them.^^ 

She hurried into the next room and opened the 
front door. Mr. Marvin stood outside, his pleasant 
face one broad smile. 

“Good-morning, Mrs. Clendon. I came over to 
have a talk with Lauren. He is at home, I hope 

“Oh, yes, and has just finished his breakfast. 
Bless you, come right in and don’t stop for an 
invitation. Here, Lauren, dear, is Mr. Marvin 
come to see you.” 

She ushered the visitor into the kitchen, and 
Lauren, with a cry of pleasure, arose and clasped 
hands with his friend. 

“This is an unexpected pleasure, Marvin. You 
are welcome indeed. Come into my den, please, 
and then mother won’t be bothered while she is 
clearing away the dishes.” 

They entered Lauren’s room, which was bright- 
ened with a large bouquet of roses on a small 
center table; besides this, a climbing vine was 
bordering the half-open window, with its beautiful 
crimson blossoms hanging just above the sill, 
where the light wind brushed the sweet perfume 
into the room. 


86 Ignorance Unveiled. 

^^What a cosey nook V’ cried Mr. Marvin, as he 
seated himself in a low chair near the window. 
“Yon are lucky in having such a loving friend as 
Mrs. Clendon, my boy. All my life I have known 
her, and if ever she did else than good deeds I am 
not aware of it. She was born to make others 
happy and she has fulfilled the promise of her 
birth.^^ 

can willingly agree with you there, Mr. Mar- 
vin. Mother has relied on Christ all her life, and 
He has ever been her faithful friend. And that 
reminds me of Bobby and the green apples. How 
has he behaved since yesterday?” 

^‘^Bless the child,” said Marvin, with tears and 
laughter mingling in his eyes. ^‘1 listened at the 
door last night when he was saying his prayer, and 
I didn^t know whether to laugh or to cry. This 
is what he said, Lauren: ^Jesus, when I go near 
the tree, please lead me away and I will go; but 
you wonT mind, will you, dear Jesus, if I stand a 
little while under the tree, just to look at the 
apples and wish for"’em? I won’t eat any, Jesus, 
but I like to think how good they’d taste.’ Then 
the little fellow crawled into his bed and was soon 
fast asleep.” 

A glow of tenderness was in Lauren’s dark eyes. 

^^What a sweet child,” he murmured, lovingly. 
'^Bobby has a Christian soul, Mr. Marvin, and it 
remains with you, his father, to keep him un- 
spotted from the many sins of this world.” 

H realized that when you left me yesterday, 
Lauren. I shall never forget the lesson that you 
taught me ; it was one for which I am very thank- 


Ignorance Unveiled. 87 

ful. I was passing a disreputable house last night 
when a group of men and painted women came out. 
They were all drunk and their boisterous laughter 
and loud talking echoed in the street. I thought 
of how easily growing children drift into a down- 
ward course like this unless the parents guide their 
steps into the path of righteousness. Think of the 
life of these sinful men and women, Lauren. What 
do you think will be their lot?” 

Lauren Void’s face paled; for a second he 
shuddered. 

‘^Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall 
see God.” His voice was half choked with pain. 
^^Heaven have mercy on them! With impure 
hearts, what shall they see? Is life such a frivol- 
ous matter to them that they dare to so trifle with 
the good will of God? If they would but regret 
their lives and repent ; no matter how lowly they 
have journeyed along the sinful path, no matter 
what they have done, if they would but repent, if 
they would but place their future lives in God’s 
keeping, they would be saved. It is never too late 
to repent, never too late to ask for and receive for- 
giveness from God. All that they need do is to 
repent, to open their souls to Christ and to live in 
Him. Oh, if I could save them — save them from 
themselves 1” 

"Well, why don’t you try to save them?” 

"I do, — I am, in all cases where I can, without 
arousing their unjust wrath. I cannot go further, 
knowing that. Blessed are the peacemakers; for 
they shall be called the children of God.” His 
eyes had grown dark, wistful. "But, believe me. 


88 Ignorance Unveiled. 

where I can, I do try to save them; I have saved 
them, — am saving many of them, — thank God!’^ 

‘‘How do yon know you have saved them 

With sparkling, tear-dimmed eyes, Lauren 
turned to his questioner. 

“Because, with their own lips, they have told 
me so ; and in their telling I have seen 

“Seen whatP^ 

“Seen that they have unveiled their souls to 
God!^^ His voice trembled uncontrollably. He 
turned his face away. “Bless them, bless them, 
bless them came the reverent whisper on the air. 

There was a short, profound silence. 

Mr. Marvin stirred uneasily. 

“But they say that you are a hypocrite, that you 
donT mean half you say; that your words are 
only spoken for effect ; that you are trying to win 
notoriety through your new ways of viewing life.” 

Laurents face came quickly into view ; his 
curved lips were slightly parted in a tender smile. 

“Hew ways of viewing life ? How odd ! When 
my views are only a repetition of what Jesus 
Christ taught when He was a young man. I see 
you smile — understand. I find the purest peace 
in these words of Jesus : ‘Blessed are ye, when men 
shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say 
all manner of evil against you falsely, for my 
sake !’ ” 

“I understand you; and yet do you think it 
really right for these people to so publicly pro- 
claim their religion, in having camp-meetings as 
they do here about Hannibal and other cities? 


Ignorance Unveiled. 89 

Do you think it just of them to so clearly reveal 
their devotion to God 

‘^Yes, for in doing so they do noble work. And 
you know Jesus said: ^Let your light so shine 
before men, that they may see your good works, 
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'’ These 
camp-meetings save many wandering souls daily, 
and their glorious work is annually placing thou- 
sands of repentant souls in God’s keeping.” 

“Why don’t you join them, then ? Why do you 
remain here?” 

“I should like to very much, but all of us can- 
not go. Still, we are doing as much as a single 
one of them, if we try to do all the good we can 
for those about us. For it is as J esus said : ^Who- 
soever therefore shall break one of these least com- 
mandments, and shall teach men to do so, he shall 
he called least in the kingdom of heaven; but 
whosoever shall do and teach them, shall be called 
great in the kingdom of heaven !’ So you see we 
may do good work wherever we are.” 

“Still, I do not clearly understand you. I have 
read the Bible myself, and Jesus said that when 
we pray we should not pray as the hypocrites do, 
standing in the street corners, that they may be 
seen by men. He said that, instead, we should 
enter our closet, and when we have closed the door, 
pray to our Father which is in secret; and that 
our Father which seeth in secret shall openly re- 
ward us. How these people at the camp-meetings 
pray in public ; they do not go into a secret closet. 
How can you call their work noble ?” 


90 Ignorance Unveiled. 

Lauren gazed at his questioner, his eyes lighted 
with soulful love. 

“^Ah, my brother, see you not how wonderfully 
noble their good work is ? For the sake of saving 
other souls, they pray in public for them; but 
when one prays alone for himself, you will find 
him in his closet 

‘'Eight, right ! I never thought of that ! Then 
there is 

“There is something else? Do not hesitate. 
Speak to me as you would to a brother, for such I 
am to you.^^ 

“Jesus said that we should not do our alms 
before men, to be seen by them; that we get no 
reward for so doing. He said that only hypocrites 
sound their trumpets before them, when they do 
their alms. He said that we should do our alms 
in secret, not letting the left hand know what the 
right hand is doing, and that our Father, seeing in 
secret, shall openly reward us. By alms. He meant 
giving, did He not?” 

“Yes, giving. If your gift to the poor be one 
cent, if your alms be one million dollars, let no 
one know but God !” 

“Why do most of the people who give large alms, 
then, like to have everyone know it? They give 
in a way that people are bound to hear of it. 
Now. how is that?” 

“That, my brother, is the blowing of trumpets 
before them. Theirs is an earthly, not a heavenly 
reward, — poor, blind souls! Jesus said: ‘Whoso- 
ever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he 
that shall humble himself, shall be exalted. Cleanse 


Ignorance Unveiled. 91 

first that which is within the cup and platter, that 
the outside of them may be clean also. Even so 
ye outwardly appear righteous unto men, but 
within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.^ ” 

The trembling voice ceased abruptly. There 
was a silence, broken by the sobbing of the wind 
outside the open window. 

Mr. Marvin was too eager to allow the silence to 
continue. 

‘‘You mean, then, that were I to give a dollar 
to a poor man, without anyone^s knowledge, and 
that were another man to give five hundred dollars 
to a charitable society, letting everyone know it, 
that my reward would be as great as his T’ 

“Yes, according to the Bible, your reward would 
be much the greatest and the purest T 

“Then you believe that this rich man who openly 
gave so much to the poor is a hypocrite? This 
Mr. 

“Please stop, my brother. I have only been 
quoting the Bible to you. There is also a sentence, 
‘Judge not, that ye be not judged So we must not 
bring personal experiences into our conversation. 
I have been speaking the truths as Jesus taught 
us. I was using no names, remember.’’ 

“I see. I beg your pardon.” . 

“Nay, there is none to beg. I tempted you to 
say that.” 

A dawning light of comprehension crept into 
Mr. Marvin’s eyes. 

“By George ! Come to think of it, you did !” 

Their eyes met; they laughed and clasped 
hands. 


92 


Ignorance Unveiled. 

‘^Good! You understand me now?^^ 

‘‘Yes ; to you, at last, my soul owes its awaken- 
ing!^" 

“My brother, I am glad to hear you say those 
words. I have been tempted, many times, to go 
to you and plead with you about your son"s rear- 
ing, but now you have come to me, and all is well. 
Parents should not be cruel to their children, for 
Jesus said, ‘Provoke not your children unto wrath," 
and cruelty leads a child to sin in secret, so that 
his father may not know to punish him. Parents 
should not over-indulge a child, for indulgence 
teaches a child to worship self, and, in his ruin, 
he has no respect for his parents, nor for anyone 
else. A child, from earliest infancy, should be 
taught and reared in the faith of Christ, and in 
living thus his parents should strive to reason 
with the child, as they wish God to reason with 
them."" 

“Lauren, your words shall be my future guid- 
ance. I have been trying to teach Bobby rightfully, 
but I have been dreadfully ignorant of the true 
way. His mother has been nearer right than I."’ 

“Ah, it takes a mother to know !"" murmured 
Lauren, his eyes uplifted, as though seeking the 
presence of his own mother, who had died in his 
infancy. 

“A man should never forget that a woman is his 
mother,"" he added, softly. 

At this juncture the door opened hurriedly, and 
Mrs. Clendon looked in, her usually calm face ex- 
pressing keen excitement. 

“Lauren,"" she cried, “there is a strike at the 


Ignorance Unveiled. 93 

lumber mill, and the laborers want you there. Go 
at once, dear, and ask Mr. Marvin to excuse you.” 

“Of course I shall excuse him, for I will accom- 
pany him,” said Mr. Marvin, as the two men 
hastily arose. “Too bad, too bad, these strikes are 
becoming very frequent of late !” 

Lauren got his hat from the hall-tree, and bid- 
ding Mrs. Clendon a loving adieu, left the house 
with Mr. Marvin by his side. 

“Oh, Lord, bring peace upon those hard-worked 
men!” prayed Mrs. Clendon, thinking of those 
laboring mill hands, as she watched from the win- 
dow until her boy was out of sight. 


94 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


CHAPTER VII. 


The poor and merciful will be greatest in 
heaven ; and the least in heaven will be the rich 
and pitiless. 

* * * 

The large lumber mill was deserted. The ma- 
chinery was still, and not a human being remained 
in the building. More than one hundred idle 
laborers were standing in groups about the yard, 
some of them quiet and sullen, others angrily 
threatening their employers, and others sad and 
despondent. Lauren Void^s heart ached for his 
troubled brethren, and as he came among them 
his face was grave and stern. 

“J ustice shall be done to you he cried. “Fear 
not the worst. Put your faith in God and ask His 
aid. I am one of you. I shall do all that lies in 
my power to uplift you from this serious disaster.” 

He stopped before one of the men, whom he had 
known for years. 

“Blending, how is it ? Tell me all.” 

“One of the bosses came this morning, sir, and 
said that our wages would have to be lowered. He 
said that times are hard and that he paid us more 
than we deserve, anyway. More than we deserve ! 


Ignorance Unveiled. 95 

My God! We can scarcely keep from starving to 
death with what we get; what could we do with 
less ? It is impossible. While our employers drive 
about in fine carriages, we labor like slaves all day 
long, and then hardly get sufficient wages to buy 
food for our wives and children. We had to oppose 
it, sir ; we cannot live on smaller wages, — it is im- 
possible, as God knows 1^^ 

^^Aye, impossible!’^ muttered a man near by. 
^Aly wife is sick in bed, and there be five children 
to feed, sir, besides myself. I tell yer, I’m a des- 
perate man, and if things don’t come right I’ll 
shoot the bosses like I would a dog !” 

“Nay, brother, thou shalt not kill,” murmured 
Lauren, placing a loving hand on the man’s arm. 
“Eemember, my friend, how Jesus suffered and 
was tortured, and yet He died to save those who 
persecuted Him. In giving mercy. He received 
mercy, for to-day He is in paradise !” 

“Yer’re right, yer’re right,” muttered the anx- 
ious man, his eyes turning to the ground. “But 
there’s my wife and children, — I can’t forget 
them.” 

“No, nor shall I forget them, my friend. If 
this strike is not settled by to-night I shall see 
that your wife and children do not lack for food 
and necessary aid. Best assured, as there is a 
merciful God above you, all shall come right; if 
not on earth, it will in heaven. Be patient, my 
brother, as Jesus was.” 

“And I, too, shall give all the aid of which I am 
capable !” cried Mr. Marvin, who was behind 
Lauren. “I am not a rich man, my friends, but 


g6 Ignorance Unveiled. 

what I can spare is yours. My door is open to all 
who wish to come. I, also, am a humble brother 
among you.^^ 

Lauren turned his tear-filled eyes upon his 
friend. 

‘‘Ah, Marvin,’^ he responded, “if all who have 
homes would only open their doors to the needy 
how great would be their reward. As it is, they 
close their doors to all but the rich; and as they 
do to others, so shall they be done by. When the 
time of entering heaven comes, the gate may be 
open to the poor and closed to them. The poor 
and merciful will be greatest in heaven; and the 
least in heaven will be the rich and pitiless.^^ 

Many other men had approached and were 
standing near. A murmur of love and approval 
came from their lips. 

“He^s a man in a thousand!’^ muttered one to 
another. “If there^s anyone can help us to-day it’s 
him. He don’t say that he’s our brother and then 
go and live in luxury. He works among us, and 
many’s the time he’s shared his dinner-pail with 
me. God bless him, God bless him !” 

At this juncture an angry growl came from the 
men near the entrance of the yard. A glistening 
carriage, drawn by two silver-decked horses, was 
slowly approaching, and in it was seated the three 
owners of the mill. There was stately Mr. Croft 
and Mr. Middlan, seated side by side, and facing 
them was Mr. Eedford. Each looked angry and 
impatient, and they were talking quite hurriedly 
to one another. 

The carriage drew up just inside the gate, and 


Ignorance Unveiled. 97 

with one wild rush the laborers went forward and 
surrounded it. 

“What is this I see T’ shouted Mr. Croft, stand- 
ing up in the carriage, the costly charm of his 
watch-chain mockingly flashing the jewels in their 
faces. “Get to work at once, you men ! We can- 
not afford to let the mill stand idle these days. 
What is the matter? Out with it.” 

“We want our regular pay,” cried the man who 
was Laurents old friend. “That’s all we ask. We 
can’t work till we get it, either. We can barely 
live on that, but we would starve on less.” 

Mr. Croft sat down, and Mr. Bedford arose. 

“My good men,” he cried, in his hypocritical 
politeness, “if you cannot live on less neither can 
we live if we must pay out all we make. There 
must be a draw somewhere, or there would not 
even be a mill in which you could work. Times 
are hard, as I have told you before. What is a 
little decrease in the wages to you? As soon as 
the price of lumber advances we shall advance 
your wages. As it is, you must take what you can 
get.” 

Angry shouts came from the crowd. One strong 
man lifted a huge piece of lumber and began wav- 
ing it in the air. 

“What we want we shall have, or I shan’t answer 
for your lives. If you don’t care whether we 
starve or not we don’t care whether you die or not. 
Edge to edge we stand, and we’re going to have 
our rights as well as you have yours.” 

“Eight! right!” cried several men. 

This time the fleshy Mr. Middlan arose. 


98 Ignorance Unveiled. 

friends/^ he said, will advance yonr 
wages two cents an hour, but we cannot give you 
as much as you have been getting.^’ 

‘^Might as well say youhl bury two of our wives 
one hour and two of our children the next,” came 
from a despondent man. He laughed a slow, help- 
less laugh that went to Lauren’s heart. ‘‘We can’t 
do it, sir, we can’t do it.” 

“Our regular wages, or none at all!” cried the 
first speaker, his voice quivering with indignation. 
“For, — by heavens I — we might as well die to-day 
as to die to-morrow.” 

The three gentlemen in the carriage looked very 
angry as they consulted advice among themselves. 
Lauren Void was watching them, but he saw that 
there was no relenting in their actions. They 
shook their heads and their voices were quickly 
rising. 

Seeing a large post near by, Lauren sprang upon 
it, towering above the tallest man in the crowd, 
his pale, beautiful face turned toward the gentle- 
men sitting so excitedly in the carriage. One of 
them looked up and saw him. A surprised look 
crossed his face, and he turned to his friends and 
spoke a few words to them. They glanced hur- 
riedly toward the man of whom they had heard so 
much, and then they became silent. 

“Gentlemen,” cried Lauren, his voice trembling 
with wistfulness, “I beseech you not to let the 
fatal temptation of gold assail you now. With 
you there is wealth, comfort, superfluous luxuries, 
food, drink! Here are wives and children to be 
fed, and nothing with which to feed them; here 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


99 


are wives and children to clothe, and nothing with 
which to clothe them. Here is sickness and no 
medicine ; suffering and no aid. As you wish God 
to have mercy on you, show mercy to these, your 
suffering brethren. No matter how far away death 
may seem to you now, it is bound to seek you 
sooner or later ; the time will come when you will 
stand before your Master as these men stand 
before you. As these men plead to you, so will you 
plead to God. Have mercy on them, or at the 
judgment day you will not be spared. As you 
answer these men, so will God deal with you. 

^^You stand on the edge of a precipice, about to 
fail into a great cave of everlasting darkness, or to 
ascend into the light and clasp the hand of God. 
Will you let the matter of a few silver dollars, 
which you will never miss, stand in your way to 
righteousness? Would you not be the first to jeer 
these men were they to leave their wives and their 
children to starve? Would you not be the first 
to call them cowards were they to forsake their 
homes and labor for themselves alone ? Yet withi 
out your aid they are powerless to help themselves. 
Because they toil for you as honest men toil, you 
reward their loyalty by grinding their wages down 
to helplessness when you should repay them for 
their integrity. Can you kneel and thank your 
God for the blessings that befall you when you 
know that you are treading these men (your 
brethren in the sight of God) down into a life of 
worse than poverty? You, who have never known 
the grasp of hunger, may yet go unfed. You, who 
have never felt want, may yet be in dire necessity. 


LofC. 


loo Ignorance Unveiled. 

You, who have known mercy, may yet ask for it 
in vain ; for it lies in the power of Almighty God 
to yet place you in the position of these faithful 
men. 

“Jesus Christ, when speaking of the judgment 
day, said : ‘Then shall the King say unto them on 
his right hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the 
foundation of the world : For I w^as hungered, and 
ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me 
drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, 
and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visited me ; 
I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily, I 
say unto you. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto 
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done 
it unto me. And if ye do not this to my brethren, 
ye do it not to me ; and ye shall go away into ever- 
lasting punishment.’ 

“My brothers, show mercy now, lest you some 
day plead for it in vain. Take your choice: be 
merciful to these men and thereby gain mercy; 
or remain pitiless and in death, go into everlast- 
ing punishment. We are all brethren, my friends, 
and there is a God above who will lead you to right- 
eousness, if you will but let Him lead. Let Him 
lead you now, lest in death He will refuse you aid, 
as you will have refused mercy unto these faithful 
men, your brethren !” 

With his great heart wrenched in pity, Lauren 
Void spoke as a desperate mother would plead for 
her child. As he finished, all the men had turned 
their faces downward. With tear-dimmed eyes he 


Ignorance Unveiled. loi 

stepped from the block and approached the car- 
riage. 

“My brothers, have I failed ? Do yon dare defy 
God’s mercy, and leave these poor men hungered 
and unclothed 

“No, you have not failed. As God hears me, 
these men shall have their regular wages, and 
more!” Mr. Croft, his face now pale and hum- 
bled, grasped Lauren’s outstretched hand. “Mr. 
Void, your words may be simple, but as is in the 
simplicity of Jesus’ own expressions, you can strike 
the soul. Brethren ? — yes, we are all brothers, but 
I realized it not until you had opened my eyes.” 

“God bless you 1” gasped Lauren, his clasp warm 
from his heart. “You will never realize all that 
you have done, my friend, until you stand in judg- 
ment before the throne. You have been merciful; 
therefore mercy shall be shown you.” Then he 
turned to the other two men. 

“You also wish this, do you not?” 

“Yes, yes,” they answered, huskily, their restless 
eyes traveling over the hundred bowed heads of the 
men around their carriage. 

Lauren’s old friend raised his head and looked 
toward the vehicle. 

“We thank you, sirs,” he said, simply; %ut, 
above all, we thank that man,” — pointing to Lau- 
ren — “who, if ever a man sees the face of God, he 
will. May God deal with you, sirs, as you have 
dealt with us.” 

The three employers bowed. 

Mr. Croft slowly arose. 

“My friends, return to your work, and rest as- 


102 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


sured you will receive better wages than you have 
yet received, and you shall be paid as though noth- 
ing had occurred to-day.'’^ 

The men turned willingly and started toward 
the mill. They were thankful, not for themselves, 
but for their wives and children. 

Lauren raised his eyes to the employers. 

“You have done this unto Jesus,^’ he said, gently. 
“It remains in your hearts to know whether you 
would have felt more satisfied had you refused 
them aid. I leave that to you.^’ 

He bowed to them and walked humbly away, his 
eyes downcast. 

Mr. Croft beckoned the driver to start, and they 
were driven from the yard. As the carriage dis- 
appeared along the street Mr. Marvin came toward 
Lauren and the two men silently clasped hands. 

“Lauren, you touched their souls as they have 
never been touched. Your words seemed coming 
from J esus, so true were they. What a great good 
you have done on this day, my loving brother.” 

They had neared the mill, and the other men 
crowded around them. 

“Mr. Void,” cried one of them, “we canT go to 
work till we tell you how we feel. We — we don't 
know how to tell you, but it^s in our hearts.” 

Lauren turned to them, his eyes one glow of love. 

“My brethren, it is all for the devotion of God. 
Thank Him to-night in your prayers, and pray, 
too, for your employers. Wealth has blinded them 
to righteousness, but their eyes have been un- 
veiled.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 103 

ay/^ they answered, and then they entered 
the mill. 

At the end of an hour the machinery was buzzing 
as busily and noisily as ever, and every face was 
brightened with a look of contentment. 

Mr. Marvin left and went to his office, but until 
noon Lauren remained among them and assisted 
them as much as he could ; then he returned to his 
home. 

Mrs. Clendon met him at the door and gently 
drew him into the room. 

^^Is all well, my dear boy? Your face seems to 
tell me so.” 

^^Yes, mother, all is well, thank God. The men 
are happy and bright, and now they are carrying 
the good tidings to their anxious wives. I wonder 
if the employers ever realize how much happiness 
they can make with a few dollars that they other- 
wise throw away in selfishness. Ah, it is best to 
fear God in our wrongs, or we may some day cringe 
before Him.” 

^^True, my darling, true.” 

She kissed his heated brow, and then they went 
in to dinner. 

About two o’clock that afternoon he left home 
and went to the Davert store. Seeing Lila Landon 
in the glass-front office, he went at once to her. As 
he entered she turned to him, her pretty face light- 
ed with sympathetic pleasure. 

^‘Oh, how happy you must be, Mr. Void!” she 
cried, her eyes lifted to his in deepest admiration. 
^^Oh, think how glad those anxious mothers are by 
this time! How light will seem their burdens, 


104 ' Ignorance Unveiled. 

now they know that justice is done, and their hus- 
bands are not toiling for nothing.^^ 

“Yes, and how many thankful hearts are lifted 
in gratitude to God,” he said, softly. “Peace be 
with them — faithful souls !” 

wonder you love to work for God,” she mur- 
mured, humbly. “Forgive me, but I used to feel 
puzzled over the strange beauty of your face. I 
hope that such a light will some day shine in my 
own. Do you think it will?” 

He bent near her, his eyes gazing into hers. 

“It is there already, little one. It is in every- 
one’s face, but the veil of sin or ignorance too often 
conceals it. When there is beauty in the heart it 
will glow in the face. You will soon see it in 
Eugene’s face ; and, come to speak of him, where is 
my friend?” 

He saw the conscious blush dye her rounded 
cheeks, but the sight no longer pained him. He 
felt only happiness that such a sweet girl would 
some day crown his friend’s home. 

“That is what I have been longing to tell you,’^ 
she cried, her little hands clasped on her knee. 
“Oh, Mr. Void, I nearly cried this morning when I 
entered the building and found Mr. Davert acting 
as clerk behind the counter of his own father’s 
store !” 

“Ah, he is determined to humble himself as a 
true Christian should,” said Lauren, softly. “He 
has not forgotten. Miss Landon, that whosoever 
shall humble himself shall be exalted. He is striv- 
ing to lead a life which will make him worthy of 
another, dear. I hope that other will repay him 


Ignorance Unveiled. 105 

when he has served her faithfully. He has given 
his soul to God for her sake. He has sinned, Miss 
Landon, but he did so in ignorance. Now that he 
knows right, he is doing it.” 

‘^Yes, he is traveling the right path now,” she 
answered, the color coming and going in her pretty 
cheeks. ^^He came to me just before noon, Mr. 
Void, and this is what he said: ‘Why, Lila, I 
never before realized what a trying life this is. 
Why, I feel like a prisoner chained behind those 
counters, never to be released excepting to get my 
meals. After this, each day I will give one clerk a 
holiday, until each shall have a day of rest, besides 
Sunday, to look forward to. One clerk will not be 
missed daily, and think how they will enjoy it ! I 
shall pay them just the same, and I shall be more 
pleased than any of them.^ He looked so delight- 
ed, Mr. Void, that I could but sympathize with 
him, and since he has told the clerks they seem like 
new beings. Oh, if every employer would only do 
this little act of kindness, how grand it would be !” 

“Yes, Miss Landon — grand for the employer as 
well as grand for the clerks; for the employer 
would realize that in showing these little mercies 
he would be pleasing Christ.” 

“That reminds me of Miss Lake,” cried Lila, 
suddenly. “I forgot to tell you that upon my tak- 
ing Laury’s baskets to the heiress the other even- 
ing she did not pay me. This morning, however, 
she sent a twenty-dollar gold piece to Laury by a 
messenger, and with it a little note, saying : ‘For- 
give my carelessness. Tell your little brother to 
keep on making the baskets, but not to hurry, as I 


lo6 Ignorance Unveiled. 

shall pay him as often as he wishes.^ Wasn’t she 
kind, Mr. Void? And Laury — why he is almost 
wild with joy. By the way he talks, you would 
think that every poor boy in Hannibal will share 
the money before night.” 

Her blue eyes were full of tears, and she dropped 
her gaze. 

“He wanted to buy something for mother and 
me, but we told him that there are others in greater 
need; so he will seek those who need it most.” 

“God bless his little soul!” murmured Lauren, 
his voice trembling. “I shall come to visit him to- 
morrow if I can possibly spare the time. And 
now I must go. Will you please tell Eugene to 
come to my rooms to-night, as I have not time to 
speak with him now?” 

“Certainly, Mr. Void, and I know he is anxious 
to talk to you.” 

Lauren bade her adieu, and after speaking cheer- 
fully to the clerks he left the store and continued 
on toward Miss Lake’s home. 

In answer to his ring a servant opened the door 
and informed him that Maud had left the city. 

“She left a note for you, sir,” said the servant, 
“which she said I was to give to you.” 

He disappeared and soon returned with the let- 
ter, which he handed to Lauren. 

As the door was closed, Lauren paused on the 
steps and tore open the envelope. 

“Lauren, do not feel uneasy about me. I have 
given my soul to Christ, and my future life shall 
be in His cause.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 107 

That was all, but as he stood there her voice 
seemed to be repeating in his ear : 

‘‘Then, Lauren, it would be sinful, would it not, 
were I to worship an earthly being and not worship 
God?^^ 


io8 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Trust God ; look upward, and open your soul to 
Him. Seek His aid and all will be well. 

* * * 

Six months had passed away, and yet Maud Lake 
had not returned, and no information had been 
heard about Ethel FlaiPs whereabouts. Long ago 
people had ceased talking and wondering about 
them, and daily events stirred curious minds along 
other sources. 

Eugene Davert had grown to be perfectly happy 
in the pleasures of aiding less fortunate ones than 
he, and though his love for Lila Landon had grown 
deeper and purer each day, he dared not offer his 
heart to her a second time for fear of her refusing. 
He realized that to hope was greater happiness 
than were he to speak and find his anticipations 
hurled asunder. Lately, with the doctor’s permis- 
sion, he had been taking Laury Landon for a drive 
every evening after the store was closed, and Lila 
had often been persuaded into accompanying them. 
In her happiness at her brother’s growing strength 
she was wonderfully kind to her benefactor, and 
Eugene could scarcely control the eager words that 
trembled on his lips as he looked at her pretty, con- 


Ignorance Unveiled. 109 

tented face. And yet he waited, humbly watching 
her day by day as she sat at her desk in the office 
and he stood behind the counter. And often in the 
few hours that they could spare they went together 
to the homes of the sick and the poor and helped 
and comforted them. Many were the blessings 
sent after them by prayerful lips of the grateful, 
and they were doubly happy as they lived in Jesus 
and served His cause. 

With a glow of tenderness in his dark eyes 
Lauren Void had watched these faithful proceed- 
ings, and as he continued in his good work he was 
happier in the knowledge that many other servants 
of Christ were helping him to uplift the eyes of the 
ignorant. In Mr. Marvin he had a faithful friend, 
and very often the two men were seen together on 
the street or in each other’s home. But through 
it all Lauren often thought of Maud Lake and 
wondered where she was. That she was leading a 
righteous life he, never doubted, but he longed to 
hear from her, to know of and to sympathize with 
her in merciful acts. He had grown thinner in 
these last six months, and at times a strange, un- 
certain look would appear in his eyes when he was 
alone and in a thoughtful mood. 

On this evening he had just finished his late sup- 
per, and, at her invitation, was preparing to call 
on Ethel’s mother. Mrs. Trenton had always 
seemed troubled since her daughter’s elopement, 
and although nearly a year had passed since that 
event, she had often spoken of it to him. 

^Well, mother,” he said, as he drew on his coat 
and gave her a loving kiss, very seldom spend 


no 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


an evening with you, do I? You don^t mind it, 
dear, I hope?^^ 

He looked anxiously into her bright old eyes; 
but with a gentle smile she laid aside her dish- 
cloth and, moving nearer, placed her hands upon 
his shoulders. 

^^Nay, my boy, as long as I know that you do it 
for the sake of helping others, I am satisfied. But, 
my darling, I feel troubled lately when I look into 
your face. Through all its brightness it seems to 
hold a lurking shadow. What is it, dearest 

^Tf there be a shadow it is an earthly one, 
mother, for nothing could shadow my pleasure in 
serving God. I myself can scarcely account for it ; 
and yet at times when I am alone something seems 
to be beckoning me on — ^to what, I cannot see.^^ 

A frightened cry left her quivering lips. 

^.^Lauren, you do not think that it is death 

^^Death? Ho, mother, I think not. But even 
if it be so, worry you not, for death has no fear for 
me. As I would clasp the hand of a beggar, so 
should I meet death; and though I should leave 
you, we would meet in Paradise.” 

^^Ay, my boy, you speak a reproof. I was anx- 
ious for but a moment. Death is but a simple 
parting for those who live in Christ. They say 
good-bye on earth, to meet in heaven later. Such 
we, of the many, shall do.” 

“Yes, mother. And now, dear, adieu until 
morning. Do not leave the light burning for me. 
I know the way too well to be guided.” 

“Ay, you do, you do,” she murmured, with deep 


1 1 1 


Ignorance Unveiled. 

meaning, hand need guide you to the way of 
righteousness.” 

She kissed him and then went to the window and 
watched him until he was lost in the shadows of the 
houses along the street. 

Lauren walked along with his head partly bent, 
a thoughtful look, in his beautiful eyes. 

“The wind seems to be whispering to me,” he 
sighed. “What does it say ? It seems to be call- 
ing, ^Maud! Maud!^ as it rushes along. Why 
have I thought of her so often all these long six 
months since she went away so secretly? Has 
something happened to her, and does she need my 
aid ? Oh, if I but knew, how quickly would I seek 
her! How strange that her face seems to arise 
before m.e when I am alone, and often I think that 
I hear her voice calling for me. This uncertainty 
is dreadful ! If I only knew whether she is in need 
of help or not. As it is, I can but place my prayer 
with God that He will protect her and bring her 
safely back to us.” 

He quickened his steps as he neared his destina- 
tion, and soon he was springing up the porch steps 
of Mrs. Trenton^s comfortable home. She an- 
swered his knock, and as she opened the door her 
face brightened perceptibly. 

“You, Lauren ? Why, my dear boy, come right 
in. I was afraid that you wouldn’t find time to 
pay me a visit. Baby has become fretful again, so 
I got Lila to come over for a few minutes. Come 
with me into the sitting-room. She is there with 
the child.” 

Mrs. Trenton was a thin, nervous woman, her 


1 1 2 Ignorance Unveiled. 

once pretty features sharpened by her delicate con- 
stitution and her dark eyes shadowed with trouble. 
Just now she held a rattle in one hand and a baby 
dress was hanging over her other arm. 

have been trying to dress Master Trenton,” 
she laughed, as she led him along the hall and 
ushered him into the cosy sitting-room, ^‘^but ho 
cried so that I had to let Lila do it. She seems to 
have an influence over him^ — don’t you, Lila? 
Here is Mr. Void, dear.” 

With a face of pleasure, Lila laid the baby in the 
cradle near her and, arising, gave him her hand. 

“You are almost a stranger — to me, at least, Mr. 
Void,” she said, with a faint reproach in her voice. 
“Why have you avoided me this last week ?” 

“It was a negligence which I could not avoid,” 
he answered, with a gentle smile. “There has been 
a great deal of sickness among my poor, and I have 
had an unusual amount of sleepless nights ; there- 
fore I have tried to gain a little slumber during the 
day. You do not blame me now, do you, little 
one ?” 

A soft light crept into her eyes. 

“Ho, Mr. Void. I am so selfish that I feared 
you did not like me as well as you used to. I feel 
lonesome if I do not see you once a day, at the 
least. But come here and say how-d’ye-do to baby. 
See how he is eyeing you. Dear me, what eyes he 
has! They seem to look entirely through a per- 
son.” 

With a low laugh, Lauren bent above the cradle 
and clasped the little, clenched fists in his strong 
but gentle hand. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 113 

^^What a tiny mite yon are, Master Trenton, he 
said, kissing the little, smiling face. ‘^So you like 
to be kissed, do yon ? Ah, I see, you have been re- 
ceiving caresses from Miss Landon. Well, my 
little man, if her kisses are so pleasant now, were 
yon grown they would be doubly sweet.^^ 

A deep blush warmed Lilacs pretty face. 

^‘You talk as though you have had experience in 
that direction,^^ she said, teasingly. ‘^But as far as 
I can recollect you have never kissed me.’^ 

Mrs. Trenton had moved to a table at the other 
side of the room. 

He bent toward Lila. 

^^No, I have never kissed you, dear; yet who 
knows but I have longed to do so 

A slow paleness drew the brightness from her 
face, and with wounded eyes she shrank away. 

^^Forgive me,^^ he whispered, softly. ^‘That time, 
little one, has long ago passed away. Do not let it 
make you uneasy now.” 

Her eyes were not again lifted to his, and once 
when he looked at her closely he saw that her hands 
trembled as she tucked the coverlet about the 
sleeping infant. A moment later he was talking to 
Mrs. Trenton, but a deep fear was struggling at his 
heart. Had he, through some terrible blindness, 
misjudged the affections of this young girl ? Had 
he read her love in the wrong direction, or was he 
only arousing false hopes ? With a will of iron he 
killed the awakening of his old pain, and in his 
usual kind way heard of Mrs. Trenton’s many little 
troubles and sympathized with her. 

It was a warm night, and one of the low windows 


1 14 Ignorance Unveiled. 

was open, admitting a light gust of wind which 
fluttered the curtains and brought a healthy glov/ 
to the face of the sleeping child. Suddenly a deep 
silence fell among them, and the baby moaned in 
his sleep. Lila bent anxiously over the child, but 
Mrs. Trenton was sitting upright in her chair, her 
face ghastly, her eyes fastened upon the open win- 
dow. 

Lauren, looking from Lila to her, saw her fright 
and turned hastily to the window. No sooner had 
he done so when the curtains parted and someone 
stepped softly into the room. 

A low cry came from Lilacs parted lips; then 
she sprang forward in grateful welcome. 

^‘Ethel!^^ she cried; then, just for a second, she 
shrank back a little. ^^Ethel, what have you 
there 

For the new-comer was closely holding a small 
bundle to her breast. A feeble cry from beneath 
the thick shawl answered the question for her. 

^Tt is my baby,^^ said Ethel, calmly. ^^Do you 
want to see him, Lila ? He is a pretty little child, 
even if he is cold.’^ 

Lila gently took the child and hastened to the 
hearth with him. 

^^His little hands are really pink, Ethel,^^ she 
cried, tearfully ; ‘^and you must be cold, too. 
Come to the fire, dear, and get warm.” 

But Ethel had stopped and was facing her 
mother, her face pale and haggard. 

^^Mother,” she said, gently, ^^surely you have for- 
given me by this time ? See what I am — a mother. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 115 

and yet not a mother ; a deserted wife, and yet not 
a wife.” 

Mrs. Trenton^s thin face had flushed with anger. 

‘^Forgiven you, Ethel? No, never! I might 
love a respectable daughter, but I cannot forgive 
an outcast. Take your baby and leave my house. 
I have no pity for such as you. Go, I say 1 Go 1” 

With a face of anguish, Ethel gazed dumbly into 
her mother^s eyes. 

‘^^Mother, mother, have you no pity in your 
heart? I am your child, remember, I am your 
child 1” Then in a burst of passion she fell upon 
her knees before the pitiless woman. 

‘^Mother, mother, you never taught me better. 
If I have sinned, it is because you did not teach 
me right from wrong. Why did you not open my 
eyes before it was too late? You parted from my 
own dear father, you married Mr. Trenton when 
you knew that I did not like him, and then you 
made home so unpleasant for me that I was reck- 
less. Mother, when a mother turns from a child 
the child is no longer anxious to do right. It is a 
mothers hand that should guide the child^s foot- 
steps along the right pathway; it is a mother’s 
duty to lift the veil of ignorance from her child’s 
eyes ; but when a mother fails to do this, what can 
be expected of the child? Have pity on me, I 
pray you! I am ill and my baby is cold and 
hungry. Take us in, mother, take us in !” 

Here her weakness mastered her self-control and 
Ethel sank sobbingly to the floor. Lauren sprang 
toward her and with the utmost gentleness raised 
her to the sofa near by, adjusting the pillow com- 


xi6 Ignorance Unveiled. 

fortably beneath her weary head. ^^Rest assured/^ 
he whispered, tenderly. ‘‘Trust God ; look upward 
and open your soul to Him. Seek His aid and all 
will be well.^^ 

She heard him, and with a thankful little smile 
she closed her eyes. 

Lauren arose and turned to Mrs. Trenton. 

“My friend,” he said, sternly, “your daughter is 
far from well. Show mercy to her, open your door 
to her, lest when you seek entrance into the house 
of God you will find the door closed to you. As 
your daughter has said, she has sinned because of 
her ignorance. Are you such a heartless mother 
that you would rather see your child fall into ruin 
than to tell her right from wrong? There is a 
commandment, ‘Thou shalt not commit adultery,’ 
and as surely as your daughter has broken the holy 
commandment, you, too, have done so. As sure as 
there lies an illegitimate child in Miss Landon’s 
lap, so there lies an illegitimate child in that 
cradle ; for in the eyes of God both those children 
were born out of wedlock.” 

With flashing eyes Mrs. Trenton turned to him. 

“How dare you speak such words to me ? Did I 
not marry Mr. Trenton? I have the marriage 
certificate, sir. Wait. I will bring it to you.” 

“N’ay, Mrs. Trenton, I do not need to see it.” 
He stopped her with a gesture of his hand. His 
dark eyes had grown wistfully grave. His lips 
trembled, but he stood firm. 

“You have but one husband in the sight of God, 
Mrs. Trenton, and he is the man from whom you 
think yourself divorced. Ho matter how these 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


117 


earthly laws may divorce you, you are not severed 
from the bonds that bind a husband and a wife. A 
husband and wife are chained by the hand of God, 
and no earthly power can separate them. They 
are one for life, and can never be made two. Al- 
though you call yourself the wife of Mr. Trenton, 
although you do a wife^s duty unto him, you are 
not his wife. You are the true wife of Ethel’s 
father, and while he lives you can be the wife of no 
other man. For Jesus said, Tt hath been said. 
Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her 
a writing of divorcement. But I say unto you 
that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for 
the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit 
adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is 
divorced committeth adultery.’ ” 

‘T never thought of that; I never did,” cried 
Mrs. Trenton, her face pale with fright. I was 
ignorant, Lauren; I did not know. Oh, help me, 
help me ! What am I to do ?” 

^^You are to understand that, as you have sinned 
in ignorance, so has your daughter sinned. My 
fallen sister, show mercy to your child in her 
wrongs, as you wish your Saviour to show mercy 
unto you. Take your child in, as you wish Him 
to take you in. Exalt yourself not, or you shall 
be abased; but humble yourself, and you shall be 
exalted. Forgive, Mrs. Trenton, and forget; and 
in so doing, your Father will do so unto you.” 

Lila had been bending over Ethel’s weak form, 
but now she looked up, a soul of pleading in her 
eyes. 

^^Come, Mrs. Trenton, and forgive her,” she 


1 1 8 Ignorance U nveiled. 

cried. ^^Ethel is very ill and cold. She may die, 
and then yon will wish that yon had acted differ- 
ently.^^ 

With a wild cry of angnish Mrs. Trenton rnshed 
to the sofa and canght her danghter in her arms. 

^^Ethel, my poor child, forgive yonr wayward 
mother !” she sobbed, pressing her lips to the pale, 
lined face before her. “Yon have snffered, darling. 
How wan and old yon look ! Oh, forgive me, for- 
give me !” 

Lila had placed the babies side by side in the 
warm cradle, and as Lanren now took her hand 
she gave one backward glance and then allowed 
him to lead her from the room. He helped her on 
with her jacket, bnt they did not speak nntil they 
had left the honse and were alone on the sidewalk. 

“I will accompany yon home, dear,” he said, 
gently. “Poor Ethel will never sin again, rest 
assnred. Her life will now be one grand repent- 
ance. Grod bless and snstain her in the path of 
righteonsness.” 

“Ethel sinned in her recklessness,” mnrmnred 
Lila, her eyes filled with tears. “She was never a 
mean girl. Had she bnt learnt to look np and 
think of God as her greatest friend, thongh even 
her mother tnrned from her, she wonld have 
trnsted on in sweet content and cheerfnlly dared 
any misfortnne that came her way.” 

“How well yon nnderstand it, little one. Yes, 
yonr words are from the heart, for when one lives 
in Christ she knows that this world is bnt a strnggle 
of temptation, misfortnne and evil, in which we 


Ignorance Unveiled. 119 

prove whether we are worthy or unworthy of an 
entrance to heaven/^ 

Lila moved nearer to him, her eyes upraised. 

^^EtheFs hu — ^husband is here in Hannibal/^ she 
whispered, sobbingly. mean Lester Brown. He 
deserted her and came here ; so she followed him. 
Mr. Void, won^t you try to bring him back to her? 
Oh, surely you will !” 

He clasped her little, fluttering hand. 

‘^Can you doubt me, Lila? It shall be my 
future duty to draw Lester Brown into Christian- 
ity and to cause him to make Ethel Flait his wife.” 

know you will succeed,” cried Lila, a glad 
light in her eyes. ^^You always do.” 

^‘With God’s aid, dear — ^yes.” 

They had reached her home, and with a gently 
spoken good-night he left her. As he made his 
way homeward he was inwardly praying for the 
two women whom he had raised to repentance. 

“I must seek for Lester Brown to-morrow,” he 
thought. ^^His is another straying soul that needs 
unveiling. As I have saved Eugene and others, 
with God’s aid I hope to save him.” 

The moonlight was shining everywhere, and only 
faint shadows quivered here and there. He raised 
his eyes heavenward, and a silent prayer was in his 
humble gaze. Then, with a feeling of peace, he 
hurried on. He crossed the street and turned 
along the avenue leading to his home. Scarcely a 
light was shining along the street, and he thought 
of the many weary ones wrapped in the rest of 
slumber. 

^^God bless them,” he murmured, as he gently 


120 Ignorance Unveiled. 

iinlatelied the gate and walked along the short 
path leading to the door. He leaped lightly up 
the steps and was about to cross the porch when 
he stopped suddenly, his eyes filled with surprise. 

Clearly in the moonlight he saw a woman’s 
motionless figure lying upon the smooth surface 
before him. With a low cry he sprang toward her, 
and, lifting the figure in his strong arms, he turned 
the white face to the moonlight. 

^^Maud !” he cried, and even though he saw that 
she was thinly clad and unconscious, a strange 
thrill of pleasure quivered through his heart. 

^T\Iy Maud,” he murmured, ^fiiome at last. 
Thank God for your safe return !” 

His arms tightened around her as her head fell 
against his breast, and, softly opening the door, he 
carried her to the sitting-room and placed her in a 
chair before the hearth. Several coals were still 
blazing near the fender, and he stirred them up, 
putting more wood upon them. The flames crept 
up, ignited, and lighted the dark room. Lauren 
turned to the lamp and lighted the wick ; then he 
took a bottle of cologne from the mantel and 
gently bathed Maud’s marble-white brow. 

“Entirely exhausted,” he murmured, as he gazed 
into her pale, impenetrable face. “What has the 
poor child been doing to weary herself like this ?” 

He knelt before her and began chafing her cold 
hands. His touch, though gentle, seemed to 
arouse her. She stirred uneasily, and with a faint 
sigh she opened her eyes and looked dreamily into 
his. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 121 

“Lauren/^ she murmured, a light flush tinting 
her cheeks. ‘^You here?^^ 

‘^Yes, Maud, my dear friend,^’ he cried, drawing 
nearer to her. “You are not ill, I hope ? I found 
you lying on the porch.^’ 

“No, I am only tired. I was sitting up and 
waiting for you, but my weakness overmastered 
me. I am a poor girl now, Lauren. I have given 
nearly all my earthly possessions to the poor. I 
want to tell you about it when I am stronger. I 
am so happy, even if I am tired ! Oh, those grate- 
ful faces shine upon me everywhere! It is never 
dark for me any more — never dark 1” 

“God bless you, Maud!” he cried, reverently. 
“You are indeed with Christ. And now that you 
are weary, God will give you rest. I shall call 
mother and let her attend to you. Our home is 
yours, Maud, as well as the home of any wandering 
sister. Be peaceful, for God is peace.” 

He clasped her hand warmly as he knelt there, 
and before he had time to arise the door opened 
and Mrs. Clendon entered the room. 

“I thought I heard voices, dear,” she said, gently, 
“and so I came down. Who is it? Let me help 
you, my boy.” 

“It is Maud Lake, mother, and the poor child is 
terribly exhausted. Get her to bed as soon as 
possible, as sleep will do her more good than any- 
thing else.” 

Mrs. Clendon stepped to Maudes side and kissed 
the girhs white face. 

“Yes, Lauren, I will care for her, gladly. Poor 


122 Ignorance Unveiled. 

child, poor child ! I will make her a cup of hot 
tea, and then she shall retire.” 

The loving old woman hurried to the kitchen to 
fulfill her mission ,and with a little, contented sigh 
Maud bent toward Lauren. 

“You are glad to see me, Lauren ?” — anxiously. 

“Oh, Maud, so glad !” he cried, pressing her hand 
to his flushed cheek. “I have been longing to have 
you near again.” 

“Th?n I am satisfied,” she murmured, her eyes 
closing. “God is always good — always.” 

And as he knelt there a great peace stole into 
Lauren’s heart and the glow of tenderness deep- 
ened in his eyes. The uncertain light was gone, 
and he understood what had been haunting him for 
six long months. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


123 


CHAPTER IX. 


In life we may learn to forget our badness, but 
in death it rises like a mountain before us, and the 
more we try to get from it the greater it grows, 
until it covers us. 

* * * 

‘^Well, mother,’^ said Lauren Void the next 
morning when he came downstairs to breakfast, 
^diow is your patient ? Doing well, I hope 

^^Yes, dear, she is sleeping like a sheltered lamb, 
poor child. She was surely very weary, for she has 
not awakened since she retired. She will feel like 
a new being when she arises and takes a cup of 
strong tea.^^ 

He laughed as he kissed her soft, wrinkled cheek. 

^^Tea is your motto for every ill, mother,^^ he 
answered, lovingly. ‘‘1 hope that it will always 
fulfill your anticipation of its curative powers. 
But as a rule it generally does. Are we to have 
breakfast now, or wait for Miss Lake 

^‘No, dear, sit down at once. I see you are anx- 
ious to be off, and the child may not awaken for 
several hours yet. What is your mission to-day, 
dear, that you are up so early to perform it?” 

A wistful light crept into his eyes as he met her 
loving gaze. 

"Ethel Plait returned last night with her little 


124 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


child, mother. Mrs. Trenton was terribly relent- 
less, and 1 had to use very plain language to open 
her eyes to her own misguidance. However, it is 
all settled now, thank God, and Lester Brown is 
the only wayward brother with whom I have to 
deal to-day. If it is lies within my power to do so, 
I shall urge him, through the love and fear of God, 
to make Ethel Elait his wife. But as I do not 
know his exact whereabouts, I am anxious to search 
for him.^^ 

‘^He used to stay at the Barnum House, didn’t 
he, dear?” 

“Y es, mother, and I shall go there first to inquire 
for him. If he is not there, I may have to search 
for him all day long, so I feel that I should begin 
as early as possible.” 

^‘You are quite right, dear, and since the break- 
fast is all ready, you need not wait.” 

They sat down to the table and for several mo- 
ments ate in silence. 

Mrs. Clendon cast several keen glances at his 
half-averted face, and as she did so a glow of satis- 
faction warmed her own countenance. 

^Hauren, you look brighter this morning than I 
have seen you look for a long time.” 

feel brighter, mother; perhaps that is why. 
Some people say that the face is a mirror to the 
heart, and that we should avoid sour countenances. 
But I suppose the face mirrors the sweetness of the 
heart also. I had a long and patient pleading 
with Maud to win her soul to Christ, and I have 
been anxious to hear of her good work and of her. 
When I return I hope that she will be able to tell 


Ignorance Unveiled. 125 

me of her righteous acts. Maud has a deep, emo- 
tional soul, and when she sets her heai;t onto doing 
anything she is loyal unto death to the cause. By 
her evident exhaustion last night, she has not only 
given her money to the poor but^has used her 
physical strength for them. That is my loyal 
Maud; just as I knew she would be — ^brave and 
true in her duty to Christ.^^ 

“She is much like Lila Landon, is she not, 
dear ?” 

“In her Christian faith she is, mother, but not in 
other ways. Where Lila is slow to think and act, 
Maud is impulsive, passionate. Where Lila would 
wait obediently to be guided, Maud would rush 
forth impetuously.^^ 

“Then,^^ said Mrs. Clendon, gently, “I suppose 
where Lila would love in a quiet, conscious way, 
Maud’s love would be secret and more like wor- 
ship.” 

For a second his eyelids quivered. 

“Yes, mother.” 

Before he arose to go he said to her : 

“If Maud comes downstairs, mother, get her to 
sit in my den by the window. There is a little 
mocking-bird that comes every morning to sing 
among the passion flowers, and he will make 
friends with her if she but tosses him a few bread 
crumbs.” 

“All right, dear; that will be a lovely place for 
her to rest, and the pretty view of the flower garden 
will brighten the scene.” 

He thanked her and, kissing her lovingly, as 
usual, he started on his way. 


126 


Ignorance Unveiled. 

The Barnum House was a sort of hotel where 
lodging and board could be secured at a moderate 
cost, and Lester Brown, being a poor man, depend- 
ent on daily labor for a livelihood, had resided 
there before his elopement with Ethel Flait. In 
answer to Lauren’s ring, the landlady, a fleshy, 
kind-faced woman, opened the door. Thinking 
that perhaps Brown had changed his name so that 
no one could trace him, he said : 

^^Good-morning, madam. Will you please in- 
form me if a young man of about twenty-eight, 
dark-complexioned, and with a slight scar on his 
left brow, is staying here ? He is quite tall, and a 
great whistler.” 

As he mentioned the whistling her face bright- 
ened with understanding and she smiled. 

“Lester Brown, you mean, sir? Yes, sir, he is 
here in his room now. It’s No. 14, on the flrst 
landing, just to your right. Come right in, sir; 
there’s the stairway.” 

After thanking her, Lauren sprang up the stairs 
and, flnding room 14, knocked upon the door. 

“Who is there?” a gruff voice asked, and some- 
one within arose, coming hurriedly toward the 
door. 

“A friend, Lester. Don’t you know my voice ? 
Lauren Void, my brother, who wishes to speak a 
few words to you.” 

There was a smothered exclamation, and the 
footsteps were retraced. 

“Come in, then; the door’s not locked.” 

Lauren opened the door and entered the room, 
seeing at a glance that Brown was evidently very 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


127 


depressed in spirits. The yonng man was sitting 
backward in his chair, his hands folded over the 
back of it, his chin resting upon them. In his 
eyes was an angry, unfriendly look which spoke as 
clearly as these words: “Come on and preach all 
you want; you neednT think you^re going to touch 
my heart.'’^ Nevertheless his face flushed as he 
met Laurents keen, sympathetic gaze. 

“I am glad to see you looking so well, Lester, if 
you are a little moody,^^ he said, brightly. “Out of 
work, arenT you?’^ 

Brown looked puzzled. Was this the way the 
lecture was to be dealt to him ? 

“Yes, I am,” he answered, more politely. “I 
have been searching for a position for the last week 
and yet I have been very unsuccessful. I am going 
to start out again to-day.” 

“You need not,” said Lauren. “Mr. Croft is 
anxious to secure a reliable man to look after the 
machinery downstairs in the lumber mill, and I 
think youYe the very man to fill the place. You 
are handy about machinery, aren’t you?” 

“Handy!” exclaimed Brown. “I can do any- 
thing with it. If I wasn’t so dog-gone poor, I 
might patent some splendid invention. Are the 
wages good?” 

“Very fair; fifty dollars a month to start on, 
with an increase if industry is shown.” 

Brown’s eyes flashed with pleasure. 

“Why, that is splendid 1” he cried. “More than 
I ever hoped to earn. I say. Void, you’re awfully 
kind to help me in this way. This” — ^tossing a 


128 Ignorance Unveiled. 

silver dollar to the floor — the last show IVe 
got/^ 

Lauren scarcely noticed his friend^s act. 

‘Tifty dollars a month is enough with which any 
man can support a wife and family/’ he said, 
gently. ‘‘1 know dozens of men who are doing so 
on less than that. Lester, I suppose you have 
heard of poor Mrs. Blunt, whom I saved from ruin, 
and who is now living in the little white cottage at 
Grant’s corner? Well, she is very lonesome there 
alone, and if you and your wife would care to live 
with her, she would be delighted. She has more 
sewing than she can do lately, and Ethel could 
help her a great deal. It would be a lovely home 
for all of you, and Mrs. Blunt could help Ethel in 
attending the baby and in the housework.” 

Brown’s face had turned very pale. 

“Baby !” he muttered. “Whose baby ?” 

“Yours and Ethel’s,” answered Lauren. Then 
his dark eyes began to flash. “Lester Brown, do 
you mean to say ” 

Brown interrupted him with a dry, harsh laugh. 

“Yes, I mean to say that I didn’t know that 
Ethel had a child. I haven’t seen her since I 
deserted her, nearly four months ago. The child is 
nothing to me.” 

“N’o, not on earth, but at the judgment day you 
will have to answer for its being.” Lauren’s voice 
had grown calm and grave. “Lester Brown, even 
though the world may slander Ethel Flait in her 
downfall, and at the same time let you go in peace, 
your sin is even greater than your victim’s. Man 
was given strength and endurance so that he could 


Ignorance U nveiled 1 2 9 

be a true protector and example to woman, the 
weaker and better work of God. That you have 
done wrong you cannot deny, for by the expression 
of your face I can see that your conscience is prick- 
ing you and you are trying to deaden it. But, my 
friend, although you may deaden it on earth, your 
sin is marked in heaven, and when the day comes 
on which you must answer for your sins, this one 
will be with the others. In life we may learn to 
forget our badness, but in death it rises like a 
mountain before us, and the more we try to get 
from it the greater it grows, until it covers us. 
Then we realize, when it is too late, how much 
better we could have done ; and as we long to re- 
tract harsh words after a loved one is gone, so we 
then long to return to life and to make our record 
cleaner. But unless you repent and do better in 
life, death will chain you forever to your sins. 
And, bound thus, you must stand up for your judg- 
ment. My brother, discard these sins that blacken 
your soul; repent and be pure. I am speaking 
only for your good. I am willing, anxious to do 
all in my power to make your future life a good 
and happy one. 

^^What greater blessing in life could any man 
want, when he has a loving wife and a little child ? 
Ethel is a sweet, womanly girl, and the child is as 
innocent and lovable as any little one. Instead of 
being alone and restless in the world, Lester, you 
can be a happy husband, with a comfortable home, 
a loving wife, and a profitable income. And 
through it all you may claim me as your dearest 
friend. I shall see that you never lack for work. 


130 Ignorance Unveiled. 

and in trouble I will stand beside you as I stand 
beside my other brethren.-’^ 

The wistful voice quivered and paused. Lauren 
arose and hesitatingly stretched out his hand. 

“Even if you will not repent, Lester, let us be 
friends. I am willing to help you and Ethel apart, 
if I cannot help you together. My effort is not 
only to get you to return to Ethel; I am just as 
anxious to save you from the awful darkness that 
surrounds the pitiless in death. So come, Lester, 
let us be friends.” 

There was a long pause. Brown had bowed his 
head upon his hands, and his face could not be 
seen. A strong breath heaved his shoulders, and 
then he suddenly arose. He grasped Lauren’s 
hand and held it as a drowning man clutches a 
rope. 

“Void, you are the best fellow I ever met.” 
There were tears very near the surface of Brown’s 
eyes. “Are you sure, quite sure, that Ethel will 
forgive me? Do you think that were I to go to 
her and ask her pardon that she would listen to 
me, that she would repent with me and become my 
lawful wife?” 

A glad tenderness leaped into Lauren’s face. 

^^God bless you, my brother, God bless you ! She 
is as ready to forgive you as you are to ask her for- 
giveness. Go to her, my friend, and tell her all. 
When you have settled this little matter, go to 
Reverend Menson’s home and be married. Then 
if you do not feel satisfied that you have done thai 
which is best, you may deal with me as you like. 
I place myself at your mercy.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 13 1 

Brown’s face had grown decidedly pale and 
grateful. 

^^How shall I ever thank you, Lauren? You 
have made a new man out of me. I was so down- 
hearted when you arrived that I was contemplating 
suicide. Think of the awful darkness that I 
should have taken with me!” He shuddered in 
horrified emotion. ‘‘My God, I am glad that you 
have saved me from myself 1 With Ethel and our 
little child v/ith me I shall make my life the best 
of which I am capable. Lauren, you will help me ? 
You will see that I do not fall?” 

“Ay, brother, forever. I shall guide you until 
you are so safe in Christ that you will be capable of 
guiding others. Best assured, my friend, that 
after once repenting it is as easy to repent again 
as when you sin and find it easy to sin again. But 
in sin you live in darkness; in righteousness you 
find the light. Go now, my friend, and seek Ethel. 
Make her your wife as soon as possible, and rem.em- 
.ber that Mrs. Blunt will have the house ready for 
you at any time you care to come. It is all nicely 
furnished, with plenty of room for your little 
family. You will have no trouble with Mrs. Blunt ; 
she is a meek Christian, and does all in her power 
to make others happy. She will teach Ethel to 
rear your child in the Christian faith, and you will 
find divine peace in your household. How, go and 
make Ethel happy. Poor girl, she has known sor- 
row enough, God knows.” 

“I shall try to make her life all the brighter for 
the shadow that I have cast over it,” cried Brown. 


1^2 Ignorance Unveiled. 

my selfish sinning I did not think of her at all. 
Yes, 1 shall go to her at once.^^ 

He caught up his hat, and Lauren went with him 
as far as the sidewalk; there they clasped hands 
and parted. 

A prayer of silent gratitude was in Lauren 
Void^s heart as he made his way homeward. How 
Ethel Flait’s tired, white face would brighten when 
she knew all! A smile of sympathy curved hi^ 
lips as he thought of it, and the light of content- 
ment deepened in his eyes. Then, thinking of 
Maud, he hurried on and was soon approaching 
Mrs. Clendon^s home. 

He hastened through the gate, along the walk, 
and into the sitting-room. Laying aside his hat, 
he glanced through the open door toward his den. 
There sat Maud before the window as he had di- 
rected; but his loving mother had placed a table 
before her, and the two were talking gaily over 
their tea. 

With a face of pleasure he stepped forward and 
joined them. 

^^Maud, you look like a different girl,’’ he said, 
as he gazed lovingly into her flushed face. “Why, 
I declare, I shall soon begin to think that mother 
put something mysterious into that tea. It seems 
to have a wonderful vigor, truly.” 

Mrs. Clendon was gayer than she had been for 
years ; her old, kind face was wreathed in smiles, 

“It is so nice to have someone with me while you 
are gone, darling,” she said, as she kissed him. 
“And Maud seems to suit me better than anyone 
else. I wish ” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 133 

But here she paused with a little sigh, and Maud 
quickly averted her flushed face from Lauren’s 
intent gaze. He had stopped beside her chair, his 
hand resting upon the back of it. 

^‘You wish that you could engage Maud as a 
companion, mother, do you mean ?” he asked, teas- 
ingly. “Well, perhaps you can; at least, I hope so. 
Nothing could please me better than to leave her 
with you when I am gone. You will remain for a 
few weeks anyway, won’t you Maud?” 

She looked up and met his gaze, and something 
that she read there caused her to smile as she 
answered : 

“Yes, Lauren, if you and Mrs. Clendon wish it 
so much. I can rest and regain my strength so 
much quicker here. I feel so much as though 
Jesus had led me here. There is nothing but 
peace everywhere.” 

“There is naught but peace where Lauren lives,” 
said Mrs. Clendon, gently; “and I’m going to 
prove to you how glad I am to have you stay with 
us, dear. Now, I shall take these tea-things away, 
and you and Lauren can have a talk together. Ha 
is anxious to know all that you have done.” 

The good old woman disappeared with the tray, 
and, moving aside the table, Lauren sank upon a 
hassock at Maud’s feet. 

“Now, tell me all about it, Maud,” he murmured, 
half turning and drawing one of her trembling 
hands in his. “You have been working for the 
poor, I know.” 

“Yes, Lauren, I went to St. Louis ; and, oh, the 
poor and suffering ones that I found there ! Why, 


134 Ignorance Unveiled. 

I never realized how much good a little money can 
buy, if you but use it in the right way. How those 
poor men and women thanked me when I brought 
them food or stood beside the bed of a sick child 
and helped them nurse the little one ! But, Lau- 
ren, one scene I shall never forget — never. It 
haunts me many times a day, and I wonder and 
wonder how rich people can live content in throw- 
ing away their wealth in utter selfishness. In the 
first home to which I went a little girl of about ten 
lay dying. I called in a doctor, but he said that 
the fever had gained such headway that it could 
not be checked. I gave all the earthly aid I could, 
but the child slowly sank into unconsciousness, 
while with white, set faces the mother and father 
knelt beside the cot. 

^‘Soon the child’s breath ceased, and with a little 
cry of delight she had entered the portals of 
heaven. With tears of anguish in her eyes the 
haggard mother turned to me. 'See,’ she cried, 
'she’s happy at last. Her poor old mother was 
forgotten when she saw heaven. God knows that 
I gave her all the care I could ; but I couldn’t give 
her peace like that. She’s the fourth one that’s 
gone, miss, and she never said good-bye to me.’ 
Then the poor woman fell senseless upon the bed 
beside the child, and the broken-hearted husband 
sobbed aloud. Oh, Lauren, I am crying ! I can’t 
help it. The tears come rolling down my cheeks 
whenever I think of it. Why don’t the rich give a 
little of their money to aid the poor? Why don’t 
they humble themselves as J esus did, and go among 
the needy and feed and clothe them ? If they are 


Ignorance Unveiled. 135 

unhappy in their lives of luxury, they would never, 
be unhappy after once doing as I have done. I, 
too, was rich and selfish and unhappy. Now I am 
poor, and never did I dream that I would realize 
such peace as I feel now. 

“Wnen I was among those poor, helpless beings 
I felt as though J esus was walking by my side and 
blessing me. Oh, the thought was exquisite! I 
felt as though I was floating straight to God. I 
am longing to repeat it; I will, as soon as I get 
strong again. I lived among them day after day, 
night after night, until my strength gave way; 
then, finding that I was penniless, I returned. I 
shall sell my grand old home, and keep just enough 
of it to live on; the remainder I shall have for 
those poor, loyal souls. Oh, Lauren, I am so 
happy !” 

‘‘Happy ! Ah, Maud, my little friend, you needl 
not tell me that. If ever a face revealed the feeL 
ings of a heart, yours does. Child, child, I never 
dreamed of what I should gain when I was striving 
to win your soul to Christ. See how God has re- 
paid me for my efforts. Oh, faithful Saviour, lov- 
ing Father 

He drew a deep, reverent breath. 

“Maud, I have uplifted another ignorant soul. 
I have sent Lester to Ethel.’^ 

“You succeeded, Lauren? Oh, how splendid! 
Mrs. Clendon told me of your mission; and, oh, 
how thankful Ethel will be ! Lauren, how many 
people owe their good lives to you !” 

He had raised his beautiful face and was looking 
up at her. 


136 Ignorance Unveiled. 

he whispered, “they will be very happy 

now/^ 

She understood his meaning. 

“A/3ry happy,” she murmured. But a strange, 
darting pain in her eyes checked the eager words 
on his lips. 

And although he bowed his head in sympathy, a 
look of unutterable happiness had appeared in his 
face. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


137 


CHAPTER X. 


Except ye be converted, and become as little 
children, ye shaD not enter the kingdom of heaven. 
* * * 

'^Oh, Ethel, I am so glad to see you happy, 
dear I” Lila Landon’s face glowed with pleasure 
as she clasped her friend^s hands. “How kind Mr. 
Void has been to all of us ! Was there ever a more- 
magnanimous being than he ? And how your eyes 
shine, dear — just as they used to do V* 

“Yes, Lila, I am so contented that I long to 
make others happy, so that I may feel worthy of 
my own good fortune. When Lester came to me 
day before yesterday and asked my forgiveness I 
could hardly answer him, so deep was my grateful 
astonishment. Then I though of Mr. Void, and I 
realized what he had done for us. Oh, Lila, I shall 
mention him in every prayer I offer to God. Think 
what my life would have been had he not come to 
my aidP 

The speaker shuddered, and Lila’s eyes shone 
with sympathy. 

They were sitting in the parlor of the little cot- 
tage where Mrs. Blunt had been living for several 
months. After their marriage Ethel and her hus- 
band had come here to reside, and a happier little 
household could not be found in Hannibal. Les- 


138 Ignorance Unveiled. 

ter was away to his work at the lumber mill, but 
Mrs. Blunt was sitting near with a smiling infant 
on her lap, her old face expressing the keenest 
pleasure and motherly love as she hummed to the 
child. 

She looked up as the two girls paused in their 
conversation. 

“Lauren Void has many a friend in this world,^^ 
she said, softly. “But, dears, his greatest friend is 
J esus Christ. If we let J esus lead us as He has led 
Mr. Void, we need not fear of our ever doing 
wrong. Ethel, we must teach this little youngster 
to understand the right way.” 

“Yes, yes, indeed,” cried Ethel, eagerly. “Just 
as soon as he can talk. I wonder if there is some 
sort of a Mellin’s Food or something that would 
make his voice come quicker ?” 

Lila and Mrs. Blunt laughed merrily, and Ethel 
looked at them with earnest eyes, wondering where 
they had found any joke. 

“You are a regular greenhorn, Ethel,” answered 
Lila, tenderly. “And now that I have seen you 
so happy and contented, I must go home at once. 
It is getting late, and mamma will be looking for 
me.” 

“I suppose Mr. Davert has not returned from his 
business trip, has he, Lila?” 

“Yo. He went away so suddenly yesterday that 
he did not take time to tell us when he would come 
back.” 

Lila had stepped before the mirror and was pin- 
ning on her hat. 


Ignorance Unveiled. 139 

Ethel went into the next room and reappeared 
with a paper in her hand. 

‘‘Lila/^ she whispered, ^‘just read this in the 
local newspaper. You’ll suspect who did it.” 

Lila turned with inquiring eyes and began to 
read the column indicated: 

“Mr. Lester Brown, who has been in Hannibal for 
several months, was joined by his wife and child to- 
day, who came from Ely, where they had been re- 
siding. Mr. Brown has secured a responsible position 
at the Croft, Middlan & Bedford lumber mill. The 
young couple are at home to their friends at — First 
street.” 

‘^Oh, Ethel,” cried Lila, the tears rushing to her 
eyes, “how kind, how noble of him! With so 
many stray brethren to look after, I wonder how he 
always manages to be so thoughtful.” 

“It is his generous heart, God bless him !” mur- 
mured Ethel, her cheek pressed against the paper. 
“Oh, Lila, when I showed it to Lester this morning 
he couldn’t say a word. He left the breakfast 
table and went off alone. I understood how he 
felt, but, being a woman, I remained where I was 
and cried until Mrs. Blunt interposed and told me 
I had shed enough tears to drown the baby.” 

“And so she had, hadn’t she, darling?” said 
Mrs. Blunt, kissing the baby’s little clenched fist. 
There was a soft gurgle in the affirmative, and then 
Lila kissed him, too. 

“How I must really go,” she laughed, ^ffiut don’t 
think that I’m not coming again. I fear I’ll be 
here more than twice a day, sometimes. So good- 
bye, Ethel; good-bye, Mrs. Blunt; and bye-bye, 
baby!” 


140 Ignorance Unveiled. 

And with her usual quick way, Lila hastened 
along the hall and was out upon the sidewalk 
before Ethel could interpose. She nodded to Ethel 
as the latter stood in the hall doorway and then she 
hurried on toward her home. 

She was walking with her head thoughtfully 
bent, and therefore did not see the manly form that 
was racing after her. 

‘^Lila, how fast you are going, called Eugene 
Davert. ‘^Aren^t you going to let me overtake you 
so that you may tell me how glad you are to see 
me ?” 

With deeply flushed cheeks, she paused and 
turned about, her hand outstretched. He reached 
her side and warmly clasped the little hand. 

‘^My, how you walk he cried, his eyes all ad- 
miration as he looked into her pretty face. ^‘Lila, 
I have been away scarcely a day, and yet the time 
has seemed years.^^ He bent his handsome head 
toward her as they wall^ed along. “Darling, tell 
me that you are glad to see me.” 

It was the first time that he had ever used a 
word of endearment toward her, although his eyes 
had been speaking “volumes” for the last six 
months. 

She looked up, and he saw something in her eyes 
that caused his heart to flutter with suppressed joy. 

“I am very, very glad to see you, Eugene. I, 
too, have missed you.” 

A flush of pleasure arose to his white forehead. 

“Lila, I went away to St. Louis to have an un- 
derstanding with my father. I told him that I was 
working as clerk in his store and that, since I have 


Ignorance Unveiled. 141 

managed to earn my livelihood thus, I am fully 
determined to marry a poor girl, if she will have 
me. To my great surprise, he didnT seem angry 
at all, but just said: ‘Your words don’t surprise 
me at all, Eugene. I raked my own father over 
the coals by marrying a penniless girl. That was 
all a joke about my threatening to disinherit you. 
I hoped to keep you straight by so doing; but, by 
all means, marry the girl ; it’s time you were set- 
tling down.’ Now, Lila, wasn’t he kind ?” 

“Very.” Her face had grown pale and her eyes 
were downcast. 

He turned toward her, his heart harassed with 
conflicting emotions. 

“Lila, my darling sweetheart, it is useless to tell 
you of my love. Dearest, tell me, is there any hope 
that I may win your promise to become my wife ? 
Lila, for Heaven’s sake, do not let my shameful 
past come between us. You know, as &od knows, 
that I am no longer what I was then! I have 
given my soul to Christ and my future lies in His 
hands.” 

She raised her eyes to his and he read a deep 
joy therein. 

“Of course there is hope, Eugene, for you have 
taught me to return your love. Once I lost all 
respect for you, but now I gladly promise to be 
your wife.” 

“Lila, my darling, I hardly dared hope this. 
Thank you, dearest, thank you! Oh, why should 
we be on the street at this m.oment ?” 

The full meaning of his last sentence dawned 


142 Ignorance Unveiled. 

upon her, and she laughed aloud, her pretty cheeks 
flushing hotly. 

^“^There will be plenty of time for kisses, Eugene, 
I assure you ; and if some couples would but keep 
their caresses until after marriage they would be 
much happier 

“You are right, dearest, but you mustn’t be too 
retentive in that direction, for, really, I have been 
dreaming of kissing you for a long, long time I” 

She met his teasing gaze, and they both laughed 
aloud. They had reached her home and he opened 
the gate for her as they passed through. 

Laury was sitting in a large armchair beneath 
the chestnut tree, a book in his eager hands, from 
which he was reading to his mother, who stood 
beside him. As she looked up and saw the two 
approaching faces she called gaily: 

“What have you done, you naughty children? 
Why, I declare, Laury, don’t they look as though 
they have been into mischief !” 

Laury carefully placed his book-mark and laid 
the book across his knee. Then, with a happy face, 
he looked up as Lila and Eugene paused before 
him. 

“Well, don’t they, though !” he cried. “Just like 
two escaped lunatics ! So you have returned, 
Eugene? Couldn’t you manage to get home flrst 
before you hunted up Lila ?” 

“Yo, I couldn’t!” laughed Davert. “And look 
here, Laury, Lila has given me permission to be- 
come your brother-in-law; what do you think of 
that?” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 143 

With a little cry of pleasure, Laury looked at 
Mrs. Landon. 

‘‘Oh, isn^t that jolly, mother? Didn’t I tell you 
so? You see,” — turning toward Lila — “mother 
and I have been expecting this for the last month 
or so. You always blushed so when we mentioned 
Eugene that it aroused our suspicions; and when 
I saw him looking at you as though he longed to 
eat you up, I knew something was wrong, so I told 
mother, and she said — as a joke, you know, — that 
anyone but a blind person could see that you two 
loved each other.” 

“Say, I never knew before what a naughty boy 
you are!” laughed Eugene, as he kissed Laury’s 
smiling lips. “And you, Mrs. Landon — why, you 
quite astonish me with your foresight. But” — 
pleadingly — “you are willing to give Lila to me, 
are you not? Her home shall be yours and 
Laury’s, and we shall all be together. Surely you 
do not object to me now ?” 

“Ho, Eugene, I am well pleased to claim you as 
my future son. I realize how great is the reward 
when a mother teaches her daughter to pursue the 
path of righteousness. It has also saved you from 
sin, my boy. Thank God that all has turned out 
so well I” She took his proffered hand and clasped 
it warmly ; then she turned to Lila and kissed her 
daughter’s pretty, flushed face. 

“I am happy for your sake, dear,” she mur- 
mured gently. 

“And I am happy for everybody’s sake !” cried 
Laury. “But, Eugene, you have just returned, 
haven’t you ? Don’t you want some supper ?” 


144 Ignorance Unveiled. 

thank you, Laury. I shall return to my 
home now and get Trank to serve my lonely meal* 
I have some business affairs to look after, too. So 
I shall bid you adieu until morning.’’^ His hand 
closed over Lila’s. 

‘‘You couldn’t possibly come into the house for 
a moment or two, could you, dear ?” 

“Ho, Eugene, there is no hope of my doing so. 
Until you are well out of sight I must stand be- 
neath the friendly branches of this tree !” 

Although she was teasing, the love-light in her 
upraised eyes filled his heart with exquisite pleas- 
ure; and while Mrs. Landon and Laury laughed 
gayly, he raised his hat and started toward the gate. 
He turned as he gained the sidewalk and called : 

“Don’t be uneasy about my returning to-night. 
But I won’t deny about my coming pretty early in 
the morning, so look out for me, Laury, and if no 
one is awake you must come down and let me in.” 

“All right,” laughed Laury, tossing his book in 
the air. “And then I suppose when you and Lila 
get together there might as well not be a Laury, 
for all you’ll remember.” 

Lila placed a loving hand over Laury’s smiling 
lips and Mrs. Landon laughed softly. Eugene 
made a playful grimace at the young boy and then 
hurried on along the street. 

He was crossing to Broadway when he saw 
Lauren Void just ahead of him. With a few quick 
steps he overtook his friend and walked by his side. 

With a look of pleasure, Lauren turned to him. 

“Eugene! Why, I am surprised as well as de- 
lighted! You have returned sooner than I ex- 


ignorance Unveiled. 145 

pected. There must be some wonderful attraction 
in Hannibal to draw you back like this/^ 

declare/^ laughed Eugene, ^^everybody seems 
to be in for teasing me to-night. Lauren, I am 
one of the happiest men in the world, really I am. 
Can you guess why?^^ 

^^Guess ?” Laurents smile was very gentle. 
“There is nothing to guess. You might say do I 
know, for I think I do. Has sweet little Lila 
given her heart to you T’ 

“She has, Lauren, and even in my great happi- 
ness I feel that I am not worthy of her. And, my 
dear friend, forgive me for asking it, but I have 
often wondered if you loved Lila. Tell me, have 
you any wish to win her?’^ 

“In the dim past, Eugene, I once thought of 
winning her love; now that thought is dead and 
buried. I am happy in your happiness, my friend, 
for God knows best, and He points a way for every- 
thing, if we will but rightly heed and comprehend. 
I know that your future life will be a joyous one, 
Eugene; hut never let your worldly gains come 
between yourself and Christ.^^ 

“Lauren, rest assured on that point. I have 
tasted only two well the glittering waste of an aim- 
less life. Lauren, if I can be but half as noble and 
true as you are, I shall be satisfied; but it will 
keep me striving all my life to attain even that 
height.^^ 

“You should not say those words, Eugene. I 
am no better than any of my brethren who live in 
Christ, and you must not think so. Even Jesus 
said that no one was perfect, excepting His Father 


146 Ig-norance Unveiled. 

in heaven. When we make onr lives the best that 
is possible we can do no more ; but when we come 
to do this we find that it fills our soul with a con- 
tentment that nothing else in life can fill.” 

^^How truly you speak, Lauren. In the past, 
when I was letting temptation assail me, some- 
thing arose before my eyes and has haunted me 
ever since ; I think it will be in my memory when 
I die. It was only a vacant lot, with a pile of 
debris, Lauren, but as I looked at it I came to 
realize that all sinful people will be cast away like 
that waste and are spotting the earth as the debris 
spotted the peacefulness of that place. It was a 
lesson from God; for was it not His own handi- 
work ?” 

‘^God bless you, Eugene,” murmured Lauren, 
with a loving gaze. ^^Teach this lesson to others, 
as it has taught you, and you will then find the 
memory of it a pleasant one.” 

‘*^1 have done so, Lauren, and I have seen that 
others feel it as I did then. But here we are at 
the corner, so I must say good-night. Come to me 
to-morrow, Lauren, and let us talk together.” 

^‘I will, thank you, Eugene. Good-night, and 
God bless your good work.” 

They clasped hands, and, with loving looks into 
each other’s eyes, parted for the night. 

^^Lila is happy now,” thought Lauren, as he ap- 
proached his own home. “How delighted Laury 
will be, and I know that Mrs. Landon will be 
pleased. I shall visit them to-morrow and get 
Mrs. Landon to come in the afternoon to talk to 
Maud.” 


Ignorance Unveiled. 


147 


As he thought of his own special charge, his 
steps quickened and he soon reached the house. 
As he entered the sitting-room, he playfully 
stopped Mrs. Clendon and kissed her before she 
could get through the kitchen door with her dishes, 

^‘That’s my boy all over again,^^ she smiled, as 
she gazed lovingly at him. “Never forgets his old 
mother, whether he is apt to break all the dishes or 
not.'’^ 

He took the platter from her and carried it to 
the table. 

“May I help you in any way, mother ?” 

“No, dear; I am really tired of sitting down, 
and there is such a little to do. You go in to 
Maud, dear, and talk to her. Poor child, she does 
not seem to be gaining strength very rapidly, 
although she’s as cheerful as anybody.” 

Very willingly, Lauren went from the room and 
searched for Maud. He found her sitting in his 
den, her elbows resting on the window-sill and her 
face buried in her hands. She did not hear himi 
coming, and, with a contented sigh, he sat down on 
the stool close beside her. 

Quickly she looked up as his hand crept over 
her lap and sought her own. 

^^Maud, I hope you are not dreaming of some 
other man,” he said, softly. “Are you ?” 

“No,” she answered, dreamily. “I was thinking 
of the time when I first gave my life to Christ. 
You came in so easily, Lauren, that you did not 
awaken me. I was thinking of all the happiness 
my money has caused; when, if I had never been 
unveiled from ignorance, my wealth would still 


148 Ignorance Unveiled. 

be used in selfish wants, and those poor, suffering 
beings would yet be unaided. Oh, 1 am so glad 
that you talked so patiently to me in those old 
days, Lauren. Even in my obstinacy, 1 admired 
your patient endurance. Dear friend'^ — her white 
fingers were now caressing the glossy curls that 
rested on his brow — have much to thank you 
for. You have made me happy, whereas I would 
be a selfish, discontented woman.^^ 

He moved closer to her, her other hand still im- 
prisoned in his. 

“Maud, since I have made you so happy, will 
you not return the favor and complete my own 
joy? Maud, darling, will you give yourself to me? 
Will you be my wife, a dear, helpful companion 
that I need?'^ 

Her face had grown deathly pale, and for a 
moment her white hand grew cold and trembled 
in his clasp. 

“Lauren, do you mean that you love me?” she 
whispered, as though her breath was choking her, 

“Love you, Maud? I only hope, dear, that you 
love me half as well ! Do you ?” 

He had partly raised himself and his arms were 
closing about her slender waist. “Do you, Maud ?” 

He had drawn her fiushed face against his own. 

“Do I? Oh, Lauren, if you but knew how I 
have fought against my absorbing worship for you ! 
Do you remember that night when you told me 
that, through sorrow, I should find God? Little 
did you know, dear, how true were your words. As 
you spoke to me I realized that your soul was with 
Christ, and that only when I was there also could 


Ignorance Unveiled. 149 

I be more than a friend to yon. Then, as I saw 
that you were lost to me, your words lured me to 
God, and with one rush of love I sought consola- 
tion from my Saviour. Ah! and He comforted 
me, Lauren; He has consoled me more than I 
dared ever hope 1” 

“Then, my darling Maud, thus shall we live, 
hand in hand, our souls together in Christ.” His 
lips pressed hers, and he felt the thrill that passed 
over her. “Do you know what has made my life 
so humble and contented, Maud? I will tell you. 
In my early youth I was a proud, imperious child. 
One day I did something wrong, and my Christ- 
loving mother drew me to her lap and taught these 
words to me: ^hen the disciples asked Jesus, 
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 
Jesus called a child unto Him and set him in the 
midst of them, saying. Verily I say unto you. Ex- 
cept ye be converted and become as little children, 
ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Who- 
soever therefore shall humble himself as this little 
child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of 
heaven.' ” 


THE END. 





























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